Most of the African countries are still classified as poor by the United nations. Generally 70% of the population is said to be living in poverty, although this differs from country to country. Given a population growth rate for all Africa of more than 3% the current average economic growth rates are not sufficient to make a dent in poverty alleviation and provide food security.
A review of agricultural sector in the last decades shows that regions have been facing perpetual staple cereal deficit and that most African States are net food importers of staple cereal. A similar picture is emerging on livestock production. This adversely affects the trade balance and the overall balance of payments of most States. It also deprives most of them from using the scarce foreign exchange on essentials services such as health and education..