There is no gainsaying the fact of this book, that the issues over which members of both policy and development communities are likely to disagree are mostly empirical, not theoretical. The agricultural policy analyst has a duty to marshal empirical evidence, guided by sound analytical framework, as the foundation of policy advice and advocacy. This requires painstaking research in the field and ample amounts of data. In addition, it requires patience on the part of the policy researcher and analyst to be able to survive the slow motions of the public bureaucracy. Professor Ayoola has imbibed this culture of working closely with the public bureaucrat, and his success on this score is to the benefit of policy makers, policy researchers and analysts and the food consuming public at large.

​

Professor F. S. Idachaba