Colman and Young address the main economic principles required by agricultural economists involved in rural development. They draw upon the characteristics of agricultural and food systems in less developed countries to highlight the importance of economic principles. Because argriculture presents unique problems to economists, this book equips the reader with the analytical tools that agricultural economists need for the study of supply, demand, and agricultural markets in developing countries. The book considers the three main strands in the theoretical analysis of agricultural product...

Based on the author's widely used earlier text African Farm Management, this account updates the economic analysis of tropical agriculture and broadens its perspective to include examples from all parts of the developing world. Writing in a clear, concise style, Professor Upton explains the essential theories of farm economics without numerous mathematical formulae. The text is completely revised, with increased emphasis on farm household economics, in which farms are seen as consumers as well as producers. Also included is a new chapter on the economics of irrigated agriculture. This book...