The establishment of a self-sustaining process of economic growth and development is the internal affair of Africa. The continent's on-going economic crisis is rooted in major problems of mass poverty food shortage, low productive base and backward technology. Production subsidies continue to be one of the most potentially useful tool for attaining the food self-sufficiency goal of Africa. The purpose of this report is to examine the role that agriculture production subsidies can play in the goal of attaining food self sufficiency in Africa.

This paper focuses on report of the workshop on grain marketing in transition Harare, Zimbabwe 11-17 October 1993. The purpose of the mission to Harare, Zimbabwe from 9-17 October 1993 was to service the Association of Food Marketing in Eastern and Southern African sub region workshop on "Grain Marketing in Transition".

Selon l'enquête de la FAO sur l'Afrique, la région de l'Afrique de l'est divisée en un certain nombre de sous-régions aux zones délimitées par les différences existant dans 10 régimes des pluies et la température. Ce sont les relations entre ces facteurs climatiques et les ressources en sol et en eau qui déterminent le type de la végétation naturelle et, dans une large mesure, l'utilisation agricole potentielle.

L’adoption du Plan de Lagos en 1980 est la décision politique, économique et sociale la plus importante prise par l’Afrique depuis l’établissement de la charte de l’OAU en 1963. Dans la période 1980-83, la production par habitant a baissé de 2,7 pour cent par an pour l’agriculture et de 2,9 pour cent par an pour le seul sous-secteur alimentaire.

Les pertes après récoltes dans les pays en développement, notamment en Afrique ont fait l'objet d'un examen approprié lors ce la septième session extraordinaire de l'Assemblée générale en 1975. L'Assemblée avait adopte la résolution 3362 (SVII) qui, entre autres, invitait à réduire de façon considérable les pertes après récoltes et recommandait que celles-ci soient réduites d'au moins 50 p. 106 avant la fin de 1985.

Agriculture occupies a predominant place in the economies of the African countries. The survey- of Economic Conditions in Africa 1/ reveals that in 1966 -agriculture supported- three-quarters of the- population- contributed 36 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and accounted for at least 60 per cent of the total export earnings received by the developing African countries.

The purpose of this review is to discuss major measures for improving agricultural marketing extension in North Africa. In view of the special conditions of each individual country in the sub-region, the recommended measures are by necessity of general nature and are meant as general guidelines for discussions, The review is divided into four parts. The first part is introductory, giving a brief review of the economic and agricultural situation. The second part is an over view of the agriculture marketing and extension situation.

Africa is a considerable net exporter of agricultural products and in 1963 the volume of its gross imports amounted only .to about a quarter of its gross exports. Since 1957 the continent's net exports have been subjected to a constant and fairly rapid increase. In 1963 the rise in net was smaller than in earlier years as gross exports increased only a little However, contrary to the past trend, the growth rate of net exports in 1963 was much higher than that of gross exports because of the reduction in agricultural imports.

The report presents the benefits of nuclear technology, the central role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the United Nations in the transfer of nuclear technology applied to food and agriculture, as well as the experiences of Africa and some other developing regions in the acquisition of the technology. Some briefs are given on the discussions with scientists and technologists during missions to three African countries before concluding the report with recommendations.

The paper deals technical publication of the improvement of the agricultural equipment maintenance capacity of an indentified national, subregional or regional institution for maintenance of agricultural equipment.

The report contains suggestions for a greater effort to be made in the understanding of the problems of agricultural development from the point of view, of the small, farmers and for a consequent reorientation of actions so that the relevant institutions would be able to serve the interests of the small farmers and the nation at large.

The existence of a “young farmer problem” in Europe has been recognized by scientists and policy-makers and is based on the widespread acknowledgement of the poor generational renewal rates in the farming sector and in particular in farmland management across the European Union. Despite existing support policy measures, young farmers (YF) face barriers which hamper the establishment and consolidation of their farming enterprises.