An analysis of the staple grain economies of ten African countries shows that declining per capita
food production has not been offset by mcreased imports. The impact ofweathervanation, pa1ticularly drought,
has been severe, reducing annual product10n by as much as 50 percent at times. Pohcies affectmg food availabihty
have undergone changes as governments seek to stimulate production. Increased producer pnces, urged by donor
countnes, have ehcited a positive response. The magmtude of pnce response vanes among countnes but 1n general
provides support for those who argue that raising prices ts an incentive to producers. Lagging domestic production
has increased food import dependency. At the same time, deterioration of the domestic economies, combined with
global factors, has led to financial crises. As food production has fallen, a part of the dwmdhng supply of hard
currency has been spent on the purchase of food. Governments increased imports m response to production
shortfalls. Increased foreign exchange earnings also led to greater imports. Food aid did not s1gmf1cantly reduce
commercial imports. Adjustment by means of food imports will be slow m countries with historically low volume of
imports. Price pohcy reforms and mcreased export earnings will lead to greater improvements m food consumption
m those countries with better production performance