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Although over 70 per cent of the labour force in enganged in agriculture, Africa is loosing the capacity to feed itself. Drought, a fast growing population, widespread deterioration of the countryside, as well as a chronic underinvestment in agriculture, have all contributed to declining yields and a vicious cycle of poverty from which the peasant farmer and African countries have incerasingly found it difficuult to escape. The need therefore is most urgent for African governments to examine their food and agricultural policies to anable them provide more food for their growing population. Encouragement of large and medium scale commercial farming, land reform, environmental management, reduction of population growth, improvement in storage and transport facilities as well as pursue political stability and a cessation of the violent confilicts that have characterized the continent, will reduce the food problem in Africa. |
