ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book begins with an overview of the general reforms introduced in the post-1979 "open door" era, and refers to the uneven way in which they have been introduced. It describes in detail how these general reform measures have impacted on rural industries, the cattle and beef industry in particular. The book also describes the institutional structures relevant to the cattle and beef industry with special reference to the less-understood government service units. An analysis of horizontal government structures shows that while some government bodies have perished as a result of reform measures, others have gained in relative power, giving them an increased capacity to both target and integrate agricultural industries. The book concludes with a discussion of issues related to the theme of pursuing industry development in parallel with rural development.
