Recent economic evolution of the Sahel

FIRST, TO EXAMINE HOW, DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, BAD WEATHER AND RISING PRICES HAVE AFFECTED THE AREA"S ECONOMICS REGARDING PRODUCTION, BUDGETS, BALANCE OF PAYMENTS, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, ETC.; AND SECOND, TO COLLECT A LARGE BODY OF DATA ON RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SAHEL. SOURCES FOR THE DATA WERE THE IBRD, THE IMF, THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF WEST AFRICA (BCEAO) AND OF CENTRAL AFRICA (BCAC), AND THE DIRECTION DE L"AIDE AU DEVELOPPEMENT OF THE FRENCH MINISTRY OF CO-OPERATION. THE DATA ARE VERY INCONSISTENT, AND DIFFICULT TO COMPARE, BUT HERE ARE PUT INTO A MORE UNDERSTANDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE ORDER. MUCH IS CONTAINED IN TABLES AND GRAPHS. THE REPORT"S FINDINGS CONCLUDE THAT THE EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT, THOUGH INDEED SEVERE, WERE NOT AS DEVASTATING AS PREDICTED AND FEARED. IT IS FELT THAT THIS RELATIVE REPRIEVE WAS DUE TO AN ENFORCED INTERDEPENDENCE AMONG THE COUNTRIES AND ITS ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE SAHEL AND THE WORLD ALSO NOW REALIZES THE NEED FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRICE POLICY IN THIS AREA.