This book builds on the premise that food security in low-income countries may be achieved through sustained effort by the local small-scale and subsistence farming communities, with the active support from local, national and international agencies. It states that any such effort will endure only if those small-scale farming communities and subsistence farmers feel that their interests are protected. Therefore, those local communities should be involved in the process of working towards sustainable food security to the extent that they consider that they 'own' the project designed for that purpose. To achieve this, such a project should be based on the concept of participatory action and learning. Therefore, the book is directed towards policy makers of local, national and international organizations and agencies which are prepared to listen, learn from and work with local farmers and their representatives. The book has 10 chapters.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 211-215) and index.

Defining the Food Security Problem -- Evaluating the Resources of Small-scale and Subsistence Farmers -- Alternative Approaches Examined -- The Need for a Participatory Approach -- Researching the Situation to Define Strategies -- Challenges Presented by Natural and Man-made Factors -- The Competition for Resources for Food Production -- Monitoring Intervention Strategies in Different Farming Systems -- Small-scale and Subsistence Farmers' Households and Selected Farming Systems -- Liaison of International, National and Local Agencies : Conclusion.

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Title from PDF title page (viewed August 5, 2013).