Famine likely to worsen

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 8

Famine likely to worsen

NZPA-Reuter Rome

Many Africans could be hungrier in 1990 than they were in 1980, a United Nations agency says. Average per capita consumption of basic foodstuffs in 20 low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa “is expected to be lower in 1990 compared with the levels attained in 1979-81,” said the Food and Agriculture Organisation in a survey given yesterday. The organisation said its projections reflected problems in raising domestic food output in line with population growth and expectations that foreign exchange constraints would fc&nake importing

Under-nutrition was likely to worsen unless domestic crop production and food imports increased, the organisation said in its report, “Agricultural Commodity Projections to 1990.” Consumption of cereals was expected to fall from the already low level of 123 kg per person at the beginning of the 1980 s to 119 kg by 1990. Consumption of roots and tubers — another main source of calories for many Africans — was expected also to drop. The already “highly unsatisfactory outlook” could deteriorate still further in the event of serious crop failures, the organisation said.