text: 30.27 Thelegislative authority fortheprogramme iselaborated invarious General Assembly, Economic andSocial Council andEconomic Commission forAfrica resolutions, themostrecent andpertinent ofwhichareAssembly resolutions -9-I j j III 1 ! I j Il j Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library8-13/2, 42/186, 43/190, 43/191 and44/78;Council resolutions 1987/90 and1989/80; andCommission resolutions 548(XX),565(XXI), 598(XXII) and641(XXIII). 30.28 Thesubprogramme addresses theproblems offormulating andimplementing appropriate andcoherent agricultural andruraldevelopment policies, plansand programmes withemphasis ontheirtechnical, institutional andinfrastructural aspects. Theproduction baseinAfricaischaracterized byweakinter-sectoral linkages. Amajorproblem facingmanycountries intheregionisthe non-availability of,orinability toapply,appropriate policies thatwouldensure asteadyincrease inagricultural productivity through theapplication of appropriate technology. Thesituation isaggravated bytheineffective operation ofmostoftheagriculturhl institutions andinfrastructures. 30.29 Themainissuestobeaddressed inthatregardinclude co-ordination of agricultural andforestry research, including technology transfer particularly to smallholders; theformulation andapplication ofappropriate. policyinstruments withregardtotheuseofagricultural inputs, suchasfertili~ers, pesticides~ improved seeds,farmtools,machinery andimplements andanimalinputs; adoption of measures fortherational utilization andconservation offarmland,waterand edibleresources offaunaandflora;promotion ofpolicies andmeasures forproper plantandanimalprotection andidentification andrecommendation ofpolicies for developing market, store,transport andfinance infrastructures inorderto encourage agricultural production. 30.30Inthefieldofruraldevelopment, anintegrated approach isrequired to improve theefficiency ofexisting institutions andtoencourage theestablishment ofnewoneswhennecessary tocopewiththedevelopment problems ofagricultural andruralsectors. Inthatcontext, further efforts arenecessary forencouraging andstrengthening boththeplanning, monitoring andevaluation ofruraldevelopment projects andprogrammes withintheoverall framework ofdevelopment ofthe agricultural sector andaddressing issuesofinadequate socio-economic infrastructures inruralareasandsocialequityamongtheruralpopulation, as wellasthalackofself-reliance andexisting highdependence ofruralcommunities onexternal assistance andlowlocalparticipation inthedecision-making process inruralareas. 30.31 Theobjectives ofthesubprogramme aretoassisttheECAmembers in formulating andimplementing appropriate policies andstrategies, withaviewto attaining self-sufficiency infoodandenhancing national andregional capabilities andthecapacity forself-sustaining expansion intheproduction systems ofAfrican agriculture. (b)CourseofactionofthgSecretariat 30.32In-depth analyses willbeundertaken, theconclusions andrecommendations of whichwillbeconveyed through workshops, seminars oradvisory services withaview toassisting memberStatesinimproving theircapabilities intheplanning and management ofthefoodandagricultural sectors. Special attention willbepaidto theacquisition ofexperience andanimproved capacity fordesigning, implementing, monitoring andevaluating integrated agricultural, forestry andruraldevelopment programmes, andtoimproving social and economic infrastructures ona self-sustaining basis. -10- -, Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library30.33 Thesecretariat willalsoassisttheECAmembers inimproving or accelerating thedevelopment ofadequate infrastructures, especially inthe marketing subsector, andinestablishing effective inter-regional co-operation with efforts aimedatimproving agricultural andruralsupport services. Furthermore, theECAsecretariat willdisseminate information onselected issuesof
analysis: This text appears to be focused on the development of agriculture and rural areas in Africa, with a emphasis on improving policies, planning, and infrastructure to increase agricultural productivity and self-sufficiency. The text also touches on the importance of coordination, technology transfer, and market development. Given the scope and content of the text, it seems likely that it falls under the categories of economic development, agriculture, forestry and fishing, and natural resources and environment.