Product Details

• Actors: None
• Directors: Charles Mann
• Writers: Charles Mann
• Producers: International Development Communications Workshop
• Format: NTSC
• Region: All Regions
• Studio: CustomFlix
• DVD Release Date: July 13, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FGYLFE
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #215,196 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Two DVD Set: Film 30 minutes; Features 2 hours.
Malawi's Starter Pack program dramatically raised the nation's food production and provides many lessons for improving food security in poor countries. Created in response to a serious food emergency, instead of food aid, it gave to all small farmers in the country a small pack of improved seed and fertilizer. Through interviews and field footage this film portrays how this program was created, how and why it was changed over a six year period, its achievements and shortcomings. Useful for sparking discussions of alternatives to traditional food aid, in illustrating some key dilemmas of international development policy, and in conveying to development practitioners lessons learned from this well-documented food security intervention in Malawi.

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great movie, November 25, 2007

By	Matthew J. Monahan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Starter Pack: From Best Bets To Safety Net (DVD)

THis is a great movie. It presents many of the issues that can develop during the policy making process. It also provides great insight into agricultural issues in Africa. Highly recommended for those who are interested in how policy making actualy plays out, and also for those interested in international development or agriculture....

5.0 out of 5 stars The Starter Pack: an example of creativity against food shortage, December 3, 2007

By	David Santiago Rosado (Añasco, Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Starter Pack: From Best Bets To Safety Net (DVD)

I have the opportunity to watch this documentary and it is really well produced. This is a non-biased presentation on how creativity and determination shaped a public policy against famine with outstanding results at Malawi, Africa.

Reading the facts about the "starter pack" policy as I did, does not brings you the opportunity to put faces on the account that a paper brings. Here you will see the story from the side of the farmers, as well from the point of view of academics and government officials. Definitely, a "must-see" for those interested in economic development, agricultural extension service initiatives, and community participation.

Check it!

4.0 out of 5 stars Starter Pack Review, November 30, 2007

By	Kary Jencks (NH, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Starter Pack: From Best Bets To Safety Net (DVD)

This documentary was a useful resource in gaining knowledge about the history of the starter pack in Malawi. The film also provided differing professional opinions among its interview subjects. I found this to be refreshing as it helped to prove that this documentary was in fact a documentary and not merely a tool to promote the original intent of the starter pack.