have started field demonstration ar:d pilot activities for the prevention ct pest-harvest f cod 1 asses. These ir.clude cor:struc­ tion of storage facilities at farns a rxi rural cer.tres a ne im­ provement of dryir>g, conservatior:, processinq ard storage facilities fer cereals, roots and tuuers. These activities are well under way in all 16 courtries of \;est A.frica, 11 countries in Eastern ar.d southern Africa, 4 in Central Africa ar.d Burundi, Rwanda and Zaire. 96. As far as food security is concerned, r.c less than 31 African courtries have already pledgee tc iir.plemer:t natior.al stock policies in order tc ensure a mir.imum sufe level of busic food stocks. In sc doing, they reccqnize the importance of strenqtheninq feed production, stock prcqrammes ar:d effective food ir:formaticn ar.d early warnir:q systeras. l<!ear.\vhile, 23 of these ccur.tri<::s have already established busic feed stcck tarqets either for all cereals cr for specific cereals, such as nGize, millet, rice, sc·rqhum and wheat.· In addition, 38 African countries are currently participatir:g in the Glcbul IPfcrn·aticn and Early Harr·inq System in Feed ar:d Agriculture. 97. The impcrta r.ce of improvi no intra-Africa r' trade \Jas em­ phasized at the Tenth FAO Reoic:ral Conference fer l\frica, ar•d since then mar:y interqcverrir:er:tal orqar:izatior.s, irclut:ir.q ECOWAS, UDEAC ar:d the recently established Prefer;:r:tial 'I'rade Area fer Eastern ar:d scutherr: African ccur::tries, l:ave been \:crk­ ing actively to improve tmde bet\·teen African ccur:tries. Ir: ud­ dition, <.'icmestic cc-cperative marketir:o has been strer.other:ed ur:ci given r:e1r1 ir.1petus, with qreater attenticr: tc beth ir·ternal ar.d exter ral trade i r, f ccd a rd aoricul tural prcuucts. tv:a r.y crqa ri za­ tions have elirr.ir.ated all fc·r~s of trade barriers fer agricul­ tural products. ECA has started a project for the "ir.JJ.orcver::e r.t of agricultural rea rketi r:q i r.sti tuticr:s fer f ccd crcps a r.d 1 ive-: 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing a series of initiatives and programs related to food security, agricultural development, and trade in Africa. It mentions specific projects and organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and highlights the importance of improving food production, storage, and trade in the region.

**Category**
Agriculture, forestry and fishing, International trade