49. Ir Ec;yr~t, ccttcn experts ueclir.ec Ly 5.3 l,S'82,000 tcr:r.es ir 19EO tc. 1,78b,OOO tcr.r.es ir oe r ce r ·: from 1981. · \/., ry of Gcv<::rr:mer.t ccntrcls ar.ci tearirc a drcn :tr· earnir.qs, farme ·s are s!1iftinc fror.: ccttcr·, to ncre remurerati•;e crcus. Product .on i's ccrcertrated ir. the lcnc-staplc: varietie~:, but of late the ·e has ceero a snift a·.,,.ay frcm lcr.q-staole aLu e:··tra-lcr.c-stuple c ·tton, r:ri Lcipa .Ll y beca U!:ie ti1e der.!a ra f cr si;crt-st.at;le cct t ·n in ccuntrie.s such as the Ur>iteu States h<Jc; been cr· the ir:c.~ease. Furtnern·cre, short-staple ccttcr: rel~uires a n·ucL sr:~aller a•Teaqe thar: the lcr.q-staple variety. The qair:s in prcxiuctivity d<~rived frcr:; qrc\..;ir;q short-staple cotton have also been fcuro tc bP sub­ sta ntia1. 50. I r. r.lal i cot ten production is bei r•c ccrs iste r.tl y .neqlected, r:ot cr.ly because it re<.:uires expersive ir.puts hut c1lso because it has become less prcfitaLle thu.r ether crcps, suc~1 as maize. In the Ce r:tral Africa r. Rer.uLl ic ccttc'n prcducticr, v1hich rcu.chec1 58, 7CO tc m-es in 1970, decl i r:ed to 27, 764 tor.r~s i r• 1980 a rd or;ly 17,600 tonnes in 1982. A project aimed at revivir.q cottcn 45 prcductiolJ with exterrnl assiEtance is new under "lt;ay, ard it is hoped tc raise output to 30,000 tonnes in the 1981/82 season arrl 76,000 tcm;es by 1984/85. Followinq qood <vreather if' 1981 and 1982 cotton prcducticn increased markedly in the Gambia, Seneqal and the Upper Vel ta. 51. Tobacco production in developir;q Africa declir.ed by 20 per cer.t frorr; 320,000 tonnes in 1980 to 256,00.0 tcnnes in 1981. Over the same peria1, the <v:hclesale price index ( 1975 = 100) declined from 162.5 tc 145.9. 52. In Zimbal>\Je, profits in the tobacco industry were of the or­
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the agricultural sector in various African countries, specifically cotton and tobacco production. It mentions production levels, market trends, and government initiatives to revitalize the industry. The text also touches on the impact of weather conditions on production.

**Category**
Agriculture, forestry and fishing