resolutions 32/172, paragraphs 6and7;33/90, paragraphs 2-6;34/110, paragraphs 4,8and14;43/191, paragraphs 4,8and12;and44/236, annex, paragraphs 5and8;Economic andSocial Council resolutions 1980/58, paragraphs 3, 5,10and16;and1987/40, paragraph 5;Commission resolution 71(VI),paragraph 5; UNEPGoverning Council resolutions 8/17,paragraph 5;and15/23, paragraphs 2and4. 34.23Agricultural productivity hasbeenincreasing atlowratesinmostofthe ESCWAcountries, andhasevenbeendeclining inSQme,bringing abQutan increasingly acuteshortfall indomestic foodsupplies inasituation wheredemand isgrowing, thusincreasing thedependence onexternal sources ofsupply. Stepped-up migration fromthecountryside hasalsoexacerbated theproblems of urbanunemployment andhasincreased pressure onlimited foodsupplies andon -7- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryservices inurbancentres. Insomecountries, thesituation ismadeevenworseby thefactthatagricultural exports arethemajorsource oftheforeign exchange needed topurchase production inputs andcapital goodsandtopayformounting debt-servicing. 34.24 Thecountries oftheregion mostlyactindividually without co-operation or co-ordination inanyofthefields soessential foragricultural development, despite thedifficulty ofachieving success through actionatthecountry level alone. 34.25 Economic incentives toagricultural producers intheregion aregenerally inadequate. Majorconstraints onproduction include deficient priceincentive schemes andweakandinadequate infrastructure. Agricultural research, agricultural extension, marketing, farmcredit, andfarminputdistribution are basicweaknesses intheagricultural system. 34.26 Themainconstraint toagricultural investment intheregionisnotsomuch inadequate resources asthelimited absorptive capacity. Thistakestheformofa shortage ofwell-prepared investment projects thatcombines withinadequate administrative, management andinfrastructure capacity fortheformulation and execution ofprojects. 34.27 Oneofthemajorbottle-necks toincreasing agricultural production inthe regionisthedeficiency oftrained personnel, particularly inthefieldof agricultural planning, project analysis andevaluation. Nolessimportant isthe training ofpersonnel entrusted withtheexecution ofagricultural development projects. Thecapacity toabsorb theflowofinvestment fundsdepends toagreat extent ontheabove-mentioned twotypesoftraining. 34.28 TheESCWAcountries arealsopronetodesertification owingtotheir aridity, fragile ecological conditions andover-grazing. Scarcity ofwaterlimits agricultural, pastoral andforestproduction. Theproblem iscompounded bythe factthatitisalsoaregion whereecological damageisextremely difficult to restore orreverse. Itisestimated that98percentofthelandareaofthe regionissubject tooneprocess ofdesertification oranother, withvarying degrees ofseverity. 34.29 Despite theagrarian reform programmes undertaken insomeoftheESCWA countries, agriculture isstilldominated bysmallandfragmented holdings, andthe problems ofmarginal andlandless farmers arestillserious inmanyofthem. Moreover, thereisawidegapbetween urbanandruralareasintheavailability of basicservices. 34.30 Acentral problem oftheagriculture sectorintheESCWAregionisthatof lowproductivity, theresultofwhichisthattheagricultural growthratehasnot beenabletomatchthepopulation growth rateandthesectorstillhastoemerge intoaneraofself-perpetuating growth andexpanding technology. Yet,sustaining population growth byfeeding morepeopleisnotenough. Theproblem for agriculture intheregionishowtocontribute tobroadening freedom ofchoice beyond thebarest necessities oflife. 34.31 Theprincipal objectives ofthissubprogrammme are:toassistthemember countries inpromoting agricultural andruraldevelopment byidentifying major problems andobstacles andbyoutlining appropriate solutions topromote awareness -8-
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the challenges and obstacles facing agricultural development in the ESCWA (Economic Commission for Western Asia) region. It highlights issues such as low agricultural productivity, inadequate economic incentives, lack of trained personnel, and desertification, which are all related to the sustainability and growth of the agricultural sector.

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