The agricultural sector is often both the main source of employment and the major contributor of foreign exchange in many developing countries. Furthermore, poverty levels are markedly higher in rural as opposed to urban areas. As a consequence, agriculture and agrarian policy will play a decisive role in shaping not only the country"s economic future, but also the material welfare of a majority of inhabitants. cont. on the next page. Thorpe is therfore to be congratulated in providing us with this detailed study of the agricultural sector in Honduras. The country may be small and poor, but the issues that this study raises are relevant to many other developing countries that are currently engaged in implementing neo-liberal economic policies and sectoral adjustment programmes.