FOOD INSECURITY IN MALI - EXPLORING THE ROLE OF THE MORAL ECONOMY

This article challenges the view that the 'moral economy' has little relevance to the problems of food insecurity and famine in the contemporary context. Fieldwork in central Mali reveals an array of social practices and institutions which help farming households minimize the risk of food insecurity, and to cope with food crises when they occur. Based on the dual principles of mutual insurance and self interest, this 'moral economy' mediates a significant but not necessarily equitable flow of non-market transfers ranging from cereal gifts to village cereal bank loans and labour exchange.