Agriculture et Developpement en Afrique Subsaharienne: Une Analyse des Origines, des Contraintes et des Consequences d'une Crise Agricole qui Necessite un Concours plus Consistant de l'Aide Internationale au Developpement et la Volonte Politique de l'Etat Zairois

Abstract

Zairean children and pregnant women suffer from undernutrition and malnutrition. This is partly due to the lack of funding allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture compared with that to the Ministries of Energy and National Defense in this country. Since 1973 there has been no political power willing to fund sufficiently this ministry although it has been claimed to be the most important priority. Furthermore, insufficient aid to development, adverse change in the international terms of exchange, the imposition of price to the African agro-industrial products and the European agricultural protectionism together comprise a strong obstacle for this country to organize its infrastructure for commericalisation and regional supplying system. Accordingly, compared with other Subsaharian countries (Kenya, Burundi, Ivory Cost) Zairian situation is now getting worse, facing chronicle food shortage which could lead in the very near future to famine in some regions.