West Africa had mixed food-production results in the past two years, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes in its latest annual report, issued on Tuesday.
While Sahelian countries experienced record production in 1999, the figures are expected to be below average for 2000 due to drought, according to 'The State of Food and Agriculture 2001'. Coastal countries, such as Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo, expect positive production growth for 2000, as in the previous year. However, Sierra Leone's food situation remains critical because of insecurity, the UN agency said.
The 295-page report notes that HIV poses the greatest threat to West Africa's food security because, as able-bodied farmers fall victim to the virus, food production declines.
[The report can be viewed at http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X9800E/X9800E00.HTM ]
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