98- rn Africa, FAO has been providlng technicar assistance in the fierds otagricultural econornics and planninq, including the preparation ot medium_ anallonq-term strategies to ECOHAS. UDEAC, tllRu and the nest African Rice DevelopnenEAasociation (*ARDAI . f,'Ao's co-operat ion $ith Ecot{As in 19g4-r9g5 has resurted in astudy and a special meeting on agricultural price pol j.cj.es Ehat is encouraq ing andquiding croser co-operation eith respect to these policies in west Africa. ttAFDA,with the assistance of FAO and the Joint FAO/ECA Agricul.tural Division, providestechnical and econonic assistance in rice production and processing and alsosponsors and co-ordinates research in the West African region. Its lrork haafar-reaching economic co-operat ion effects as it is geared to the objective ofregional self-sufficiency in rice. Sinitarly, technlcat assistance has beenprovided, in co-operatj.on eith rJNDp, to several African regionar organizations sucbas the Lake chad Basin codnission, trre organization for the Kagera Rieer BasinDevel'opnent. the organization for the Ruvuna Basin Dever.opment and the Authority ofthe Niger Ri.uer Basin. The 1984 perspective study of Ehe SADCC rnenber countrresconducted by FAO, ,,Aqricult.ure Toeard 2000", has provided a point of departure forfuture harmonization of agricultural production, food supptles, farning inputsources, and narke!ing arrangements in southern Africa. 99. In Asia and the pacific, FAO has helpeat ASEAN to strengthen regionalco-opera!ion through the analyses of harrnonization of agricultural plans andpolicies, regional denEnd for basic food and feed coflnoditiea (rj,ce, corn, sugar,coconut oil, fish, pork. beet and poultry) , possibilities for joint fertilizerproduction ventures and sgrategies for a systenatic preparation, monitoring andevaluation of joint projects in food, aqrlculture anal forestrv. 100. In the Near East, FAO undertook a major study on agricultural economi.clntegration and req j.onal co-operalion in the Arab World. 4/ FAO has closelycollaborated with lbe Arab Fund for Economic and SociaI DEveloprnent (AFESD) ]'n thepreparacion of a common Aqriculturar policy for the mernber countries of lheco-operation council 0f the Arab curf scates (ccp) , The coflnon agricurtural policy A/40/58r Eng Ii sh Paqe 25 ie atesigneat to Promote aqricultural lnteglation ln accordance sitb a common strat.egt enphasiztnq oPtimum utillzation of available uater resources, the attainnent of food security fron regional resources and the pronotion of lotnt enterpr ises, lol.InLatlnNnerica,FAocontinuedtoProvi.letechnlcalaaglEtancetotheAndean croup in the area6 of agrlcultural planntng' Epeciflc inveEtnent Projects for agricultural inteqration, aqrlcultural trade and llarketing' and aninal and vegeEable health Prot ectlon. (b) plant health and the control of plant pesta lo2.ToassistthedeveloPlngcountrlestorealiBethepotentialbenefitsfrom fisheries made Possibl'e by the net, legal r69ine of the oceans, FAO has been supporting nunerous activities with Etrong ECDC conponents. Of particular releeance are activities ln support of subregional ftsheries bodlesr the Fishery Lat. Advisory Progranne and the develoPnenE of flsheries lnforDation Bygtefts ( INFOPESCA tn Latin America, INFOFISI| in Asia, INFOSAIiAK in the i'liddle East ano INFoPECHE in t{est Africa). geared to internatlonal oarketing of fish products' fhus, eith FAO asslstance' gubsidiary bodies for the developtrent of flsheries have been establlshed for Ehe Bay of Bengal, the South China Sea and the Lesser
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a report on the activities and projects of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) across various regions, focusing on agricultural development, food security, and sustainable resource management. The text highlights the organization's efforts to provide technical assistance, conduct studies, and promote regional cooperation in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

**Category**
Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Economic development