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Urbanization, Agricultural Production and Food Self-sufficiency : reflections on the African Problem -The objective, proclaimed everywhere in Black Africa, «to attain food self-sufficiency by the year 2,000», comes up against various obstacles which can be classed into three groups : the lack of sufficient national foodstuff production, weak commercial circuits, and changes in eating habits. Foodstuff production is more and more inadequate to meet needs ; on account of growing urbanization, the proportion of peasants in the national populations does not cease to decrease. Another negative factor is the rather unbalanced demographic structure of the rural populations -an increasing shortage of males and young adults -which is not at all favorable for augmenting agricultural production. In addition, the techniques used are nearly everywhere of the traditional type and assure only low outputs ; the little progress recorded, especially in certain countries of the Sahel region, is very limited and of only a local nature. The difficulties encountered in supplying the cities still result from defects in the transportation systems (railroad networks at a rudimentary stage of development, roads that are in a bad state, temporary or permanent, rivers that are not navigable from one end to the other) which lead to high production costs. These onerous costs are also due to grave problems in the public or private business systems : speculation and mismanagement, for example. But the new ways of feeding oneself also affect the problem. Imported products are more and more consumed, as are imported «European» vegetables, and for different reasons : sometimes to imitate, though more often for economic reasons ; and here some comments are in order. Quite a number of local products are more expensive than the merchandise imported, the manner in which the selling outlets are managed leaves much to be desired, and among some of the other reasons is the high price of wood. Finally, one must underline the changes in the way of life and in mentalities ; work hours, increasing indépendance of women, etc. This evolution being no doubt irreversible, the demand for «foreign» products cannot be eradicated and some means must be found to satisfy it. The problem of self-sufficiency must thus be examined from another angle, that of increasing exports, which are now indispensable to offsetting the necessary imports.

Natural Milieu, Cotton Growing and Agricultural Development in Western Burkina Faso -In the countries of the Sahel region, cotton has often been made responsible for the lack of foodstuff production. This hypothesis is examined here in the framework of the O.R.D. of Black Volta, which produces 42 % of the national cotton crop. This crop has been favored here for some time now by the concerted efforts of a company (C.F.D.T., today SOFITEX) which introduced improved techniques of crop growing and selling and developed agricultural credit facilities. The region is characterized by generally poor quality of soils and severe drought ; nevertheless, cotton here finds favorable conditions for growth. Although the main water source (the Mouhoun, formerly called the Black Volta)) is always flowing, the irrigation of crops is not practiced. The tree and shrub vegetation is menaced with extinction because of the activity of man and animals. Six main ethnic groups occupy the area, but a constant migratory flow continues to increase the number of members of the Mossi people. Cotton growing, although already inexistence before the colonial period, was for a long time unpopular because of its obligatory nature. It really did not enjoy strong growth until shortly before Indépendance, after which the public authorities strongly supported it. Since 1980, mechanized farms have multiplied. They practice year-round farming with a rotation of cotton -corn -millet, use transported tools, manure and mineral fertilizer, and phyto-sanitary treatments. Output is high and incomes have significantly increased in spite of production costs. This development concerns at present but a minority of farmers, but it seems to be very encouraging.

The Evolution of the Bwa and Pougouli Agrarian Systems in Pô-Ouest, Burkina Faso -The region of Pô-Ouest (Bougouriba Province) has two distinct agricultural systems : the Pougouli system, founded on a cutting up and dispersion of land, but still attached to a self-supporting economy, and the Bwa system, based on grouping fields into a «whole» and opened to a network which favors the growth of trade relationships. This difference in the objectives pursued appears as a sign of inequality of situation, an inequality tied to the communication network and at the level of the development of productive forces, thus making of the Bwa area an attractive economic pole for the Pougouli populations.

Agriculture in the City : the example of Bangui -As the case with quite a number of cities in Black Africa, Bangui possesses an important inter-urban agricultural activity. It should be noted that this form of agriculture reflects the overall poverty of the populations, which seek refuge in primary activities in order to eke out a living. City agriculture can be practiced near houses, without leaving the framework of the concession : it can thus be qualified as inter-domain, but it can also be exercised outside of the familly domain and then be considered as extra-domain. Agriculture practiced in the heart of the concession consists of two elements. The «jardin de case» (hut garden), to begin with, is for foodstuff production. It is of small size, welltended, fertilized with household wastes, and enables the housewife to have at close hand ingredients that she might otherwise lack. The crops are of mixed variety : condiments, small vegetables and medicinal plants ; a micro multiculture is involved. The «champ de case» (hut field), next, is much larger. It is found particularly in large-size concessions. Formerly intended for self-consumption, it today enables the family to earn some money. Unlike the garden, it consists of a single crop per plot, usually manioc. In this respect, it resembles the fields farmed outside of the concession. Extra-domain agriculture often employs empty land interspersed among dwellings in the peripheral districts. It includes the district fields, either those planted uniquely for foodstuff production or to supplement family income, truck farms, income crop farms covering the best soils, and crops ot the pioneer front The latter fields occupy the terrain before home construction has begun. They thus include temporary fields that are spread out ahead of building. When the quality of the land is very good, however, this role of preceeding dwelling construction vanishes and the fields become permanent, thus interfering with the spatial extension of the city. Should agriculture continue to exist in Bangui ? Yes, because it is necessary for the survival of many family units, and at the same time it enables the city to integrate itself better into its food supply space.