FOOD POLICY, NUTRITION PLANNING AND SURVIVAL - CASES OF KERALA AND SRI-LANKA

Sri Lanka and Kerala enjoy mortality conditions that are unusually favourable in light of their limited per capita income. To what extent can food policies and nutrition planning efforts account for this? An examination of the available evidence suggests that food and nutrition policies taken by themselves can probably explain a part, but only a part, of the favourable health status achieved. Much more important is the way in which food and nutrition efforts have served as central integrating themes for a wide range of development activities directed toward the alleviation of poverty. © 1979.