FAO warns of African food shortages.

Fifteen African countries faced exceptional food shortages. Several Sahelian countries were experiencing food supply problems following poor harvests in late 1990, FAO reported. Drought and civil strife in a number of nations also caused serious situations.

The Executive Board of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), acting on what it predicted would be a serious shortfall in food production due to drought and a worsening of existing widespread poverty in rural areas, endorsed on 24 January the second phase of its Special Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa. The first phase, which raised some $300 million for 26 projects in 20 of Africa's poorest countries, was initiated in 1986 following two years of devastating drought.

Screwworm eradication

Another threat to Africa's food supply, particularly in North Africa, is the "New World" screwworm fly, a parasitic insect which feeds on the living flesh of warm-blooded animals. Representatives from 48 donor countries and international organizations on 12 February pledged some $15 million at the second Pledging Conference on Screwworm Eradication in North Africa, sponsored by IFAD and FAO.

The funds will support the IFAD-initiated and funded pilot project, co-financed by the African Development Bank, the UN Development Programme and FAO, in releasing sterile insects in the North African environment as a means of breaking the life cycle of the screwworm fly.

The programme operates out of the Rome-based Screwworm Emergency Centre for North Africa, set up in June 1990 at FAO Headquarters. At the first Pledging Conference in July 1990, $31 million was pledged and Libya, the most seriously affected country, later pledged $27 million.

Africa's economy:

Marginal improvement

in 1990

Under-Secretary-General Adebayo Adedeji, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in January stated that economic restructuring and perseverance with policy reforms and adjustment efforts had led to only marginal improvement in Africa's economy in 1990.

He reported that per capita growth rates had remained negative, "as population pressure continued unabated while the growing scourge of inflation and unemployment, and the dehumanizing shortage of the most basic of essentials and necessities of life persisted".

Special relief programmes and "far-reaching measures" were needed, especially in the areas of commodities, debt and resource flows.

The General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole in September will review and appraise the Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development (1986-1990), adopted at the Assembly's special session in May 1986. The Ad Hoc body will assess Africa's economic performance and measures needed to sustain accelerated growth and development beyond 1991.

Salim Lone, Chief of Information for the UN Africa Recovery Programme, has stated that during 1990 more African countries had introduced multi-party politics than in the previous 25 years combined. Africa was showing itself to be "serious about both political and economic reforms", but he stressed that political reforms would not work if poor economic conditions persisted.

New strategy needed

A 15-member UN expert group on Africa's commodity problems, chaired by former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, in a 165-page report (A/45/581) issued in October 1990, stated that an explicit commodity strategy would be vital for African economic growth and adjustment. "African policy makers must use commodity production and trade as a motor for expansion", the group stated.

It advocates a profound "change in attitude" about commodity markets: greater emphasis on new product varieties; exploration of previously untouched resources; investments in exploitation of additional commodity reserves; and association with foreign interests to strengthen marketing and distribution.

Also stressed are increased reliance on African food crops; attainment of food security at the household, national and regional levels; diversification to enlarge the export base; increased export earnings from primary and processed commodities; development of intra-African cooperation and trade; more effective cooperation between commodity producers and consumers; and a halt to desertification and reversal of environmental degradation.

Decades for Africa

The UN plans to highlight transport, communications and industrial development in Africa in the 1990s. In 1988, the Assembly declared the Second Transport and Communications Decade in Africa (1991-2000). The First Decade (1978-1988) provided policy and strategy measures, as well as institutions and mechanisms for their implementation, the ECA reported.

In 1989, the Assembly proclaimed the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa (1991-2000). The first Decade (the 1980s) aimed to mobilize greater political commitment to, and financial support for, Africa's industrialization.