ABSTRACT
Any cursoiy look at the biophysical and socioeconomic data for SubSaharan Africa (SSA) as a whole immediately gives rise to two funda mental conclusions. The first is the degree of heterogeneity that exists in the region in terms of resource endowment, institutional and infrastructure development, political stability and maturity, and commitment to develop ment. The second is that in terms of almost any economic developmental indicator, SSA as a whole, is continuing to deteriorate relative to any other region of the world (ETA, 1994, p.48; CGIAR, 1994). Given the diversity in SSA there are promising signs of progress in agricultural and economic development in a few countries, but in general the immediate and long term prospects are not promising. Even more depressing is the fact that about 1.5 billion hectares or 80% of Sub-Saharan African diy lands and rangelands show significant signs of desertification, while 34% of the re maining land in Africa is reputedly under threat of desertification (Rwegayura, 1992; Agence France Presse, 1993).
