Food Production or Food Aid? An African Challenge

Food production is not keeping pace with
Africa's rapidly growing needs. Aid programs in the
1970s and 1980s were considered a temporary solution to the
most appalling famines, but Africa's food shortage
appears to be worsening. This paper discusses the reasons
for this situation and ways to address it. African
policymakers should consider intensifying and diversifying
local production and establishing systems for marketing and
setting prices. Individual farmers or farmers'
communities must take the initiative for the farmers while
governments must take responsibility for developing and
maintaining total networks.