The scale and persistence of the food crisis in Africa during the last

20 years is of the gravest concern to African governments as well as to the international community. Food production is not able to keep pace with population growth and many countries in the continent have become increasingly dependent on imports of food stuffs originating from international aid.

Au cours des deux dernières décennies, l'Afrique a graduellement perdu les moyens qu'elle avait de nourrir sa population et de financer ses investissements dans le secteur agricole. Elle dépend de plus en plus des pays industrialisés pour la satisfaction des besoins. La question logique est par conséquent de savoir s'il existe un quelconque espoir pour les populations d'Afrique.

This study, which is part of in-depth studies on the economies of African least developed countries envisaged in the ECA Medium-term Plan for the period 1984—1989, underscores the objective of the attainment of food self—sufficiency as a priority area called for in such key documents, as Freetown Declaration (November 1976) of Ministers of Agriculture, the Regional Food Plan for Africa (l978) the Monrovia Declaration of Commitment on Guidelines and Measures for National and Collective self-reliance in social and Economic Development for the Establishment of a New Economic Order (July 1979),

L’adoption du Plan de Lagos en 1980 est la décision politique, économique et sociale la plus importante prise par l’Afrique depuis l’établissement de la charte de l’OAU en 1963. Dans la période 1980-83, la production par habitant a baissé de 2,7 pour cent par an pour l’agriculture et de 2,9 pour cent par an pour le seul sous-secteur alimentaire.

Les activites entreprises par le Groupe conseil en application de la deuxième partie de la même résolution qui demande inventorier les précédes technologiques de production de farines composées, doivent en principe etre achèvées, en 1982.

With the goal of stimulating the production and utilisation of indigenous cereals, rootss tubers and legumes in particular sorghum in composite flours for bakery products in traditional, new and modified food products it will have the following objectives^

a) ensure better understanding of the importance and potential

for industrial application of sorghums etc. and the technologies

available for milling and baking coarse grains'

b) ascertain the status and plans of existing 'national composite

flour programmes or the possibilities of establishing such

The objective of the OCAM, established en the basis of the solidarity existing between its member States is, in keeping with the spirit of the OAU, to strengthen co-operation and solidarity between African States and Mauritius, in order to accelerate their economic, social, technological and cultural development.

This document focuses on the regional and sub regional intergovernmental organizations in Africa for the development of food and agriculture. There are about 50 sub regional and regional African intergovernmental organizations engaged wholly or partially in the development of food and agriculture. Some of these organizations have in turn sponsored interstate enterprises or organizations, which are run either under their own jurisdiction or independently.