8 July 1987

35th plenary meeting

International year for the mobilization of financial and technological resources to increase food and agricultural production in Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Deeply concerned at the critical food and agricultural situation in Africa during the past two decades, as evidenced by the drastic decline in self-reliance in food,

Aware, however, of the improvement in the food situation in some countries during the past two years, owing to the improved weather conditions and policy measures taken in those countries,

Convinced of the need to rehabilitate African agriculture, especially by strengthening the foundation for sound development of the food sector,

Noting the success in food production achieved by some countries and hoping to eliminate hunger from the African continent totally and as soon as possible,

Recalling the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990, adopted by the General Assembly at its thirteenth special session, which accords high priority to the food and agricultural sector, as envisaged in Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery, 1986-1990, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its twenty-first ordinary session,

Recognizing the critical need for sufficient financial resources to foster the growth of the agricultural sector in Africa,

Recognizing also that the technological gap in Africa is directly related to declining agricultural productivity, which is aggravated by natural factors such as drought, desertification, floods and cyclones,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the international year for the mobilization of financial and technological resources to increase food and agricultural production in Africa,

Recognizing that the General Assembly, in its resolution 38/198 of 20 December 1983, noted that the year 1991 might be designated international year for the mobilization of financial and technological resources to increase food and agricultural production in Africa, bearing in mind the relevant criteria set forth in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980,

1. Reaffirms the individual and collective commitment of African Governments and the international community to the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990, with its focus on food and agriculture, as envisaged in Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery, 1986-1990;

2. Requests the Economic Commission for Africa, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to take all necessary measures to facilitate and ensure effective co-operation among national and subregional research institutions in Africa;

3. Calls upon the international community to give high priority to the agricultural sector in Africa, in particular to agricultural research and the development of technology;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider making concrete proposals to the General Assembly that would be relevant to the international year for the mobilization of financial and technological resources to increase food and agricultural production in Africa.