AGRI-FOOD SECTOR OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

The countries of African continent still face many socio-economic problems that hinder the development of their economy in general and food sector in particular. The vast majority of agricultural products produced by most countries directed to meet their own needs, although this still does not completely solve the issue. The aim of the article is to study the dynamics of production by African countries of main groups of agricultural and food industry products, to identify basic trends and current state of food supply on the continent. The relevance of the study is due to the determination of objective opportunities for the supply of food by Ukrainian companies to target African markets. The scientific methods used: theoretical generalization, historical-logical, analysis and synthesis, comparative assessment, statistical, expert assessments, graphical and tabular. The dominance of plant cultivation sector in the agriculture of African countries only confirms weak development of the food sector and its technological backwardness. The article examines agriculture of Western, Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa with allocation of the commodity specialization for each subregion. Common to all parts of the continent is the orientation towards grain crops as the basis for food consumption, although depending on climatic conditions, specialization expands to livestock farming by directions, fish farming, beekeeping, growing fruits, vegetables, etc. The general dynamics of production the main food groups by the countries of the continent, starting from 2000, presented. The growth rates of agricultural and food industry products are still lagging behind the population growth rates, so food shortage for Africa is tangible and constant. The key countries in the region in terms of food supply are Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, which most often occupy leading positions in the ratings of producers by certain products. The production of specific crops typical for the natural and climatic conditions of Africa – coffee, tea, tobacco, cocoa beans – separately studied. The main problems of natural, economic, political origin characterized, including those existing at the present stage, which lead to specific negative results and a decrease in important indicators of agricultural production in Africa. The provisions of the article aimed at informing Ukrainian market entities interested in export of agricultural products about the most promising products and buying countries in the region.