4' Anong lhe essential social and economic priorities for the deveroprnent oftbe least developed countries, both as u ,..n" of satisfying the mostfundanental hunan needs and as a basis for econonic groeth, agriculture andfood productlon eere given Ebe highest priority in the Substantial Ne$Progranne of Action. specific recommeniations uere made in paragraphs 9_19 ofthe Progranme and nore especially in paragraph 13. Indeed, the igei;hc of lheaqricultural sector wirhin the overali "aonoit." of the least developedcountries, supporting the ouerrrhelnlng najority of the population andproviding rar. naterials for industry and expori revenues, establishes a clearand close link between progress ln this sector and oeerall economic groFth.These reconrnenda t ions called for giving a high priority in the nationaldevelopnent plans, progrannes and policies oi t;e reast deueloped counlries tothe agricultural sector, $ith particular atCention to food production anddistribution, Agricultural and food strategles eere to include among thelrobjectives: (a) The attainnent of greater food self_su f fic iency as soon as possitleand at the latest. by L990, (b) The attainment or surpassing of the 4 per cent groeth rate inagricultural production, (c) Achievement o€ food security through food supplies readilyaccesaible aC affordable pr ice s. 5. During the first four years of the lggos agricultural produclion in cheleast developed countries continued to be a source of continuing concern interns both of qrowth rates and of the abirity of the reast devetoped countrieslo neet lbe food and nutritional needs of th;ir growing population. Duringthis period the average rate of grolrlb of agricultural output no! only fellfar sbort of the target of 4 per cent but "l"o ,"" loeer than that recorded lnthe I960s and lg?Os- This implied a serious deterloratlon in per capitaterns, giuen that population increased at tbe rate of 2.6 per ""rrt pa, "nnur.6. The goal of food self-sufficiency rras even fureher fron being fulfilled,inasnucb as food production per capita ferl even nore than oeerarr.aqricultural production. The decline of per capita food production rrorseDedvagarlea of seather, Such anof n€rasures undertaken by theof Ebe volune, conditions andother.A/40 /989 /Add .r0 Eng li sh Page 1l acbievement recuires an intelliqent comblnationIeast developed countries, on t;e one hand, andstructure of international assisiance, on thev{0/989,/Add. ro Eng 11sh Page 12 from -0.5 per cenE per annum in the lg?os to -1.4 per cent in 1980-1984' Ilo{ever ' 7 anpng tbe 35 l;ast developed countrl'es ctidl record positive grol'th ra!e6 in food output Per capita, Prooittq the realism of the targets set by the subatanllar Neet Programme oi lction. Food insecurlty has sorsened further' particularly at the household level. 1. Non-food agricultural productlon' itestined largely for export' performed relatively beeter for the l;ast developed countries as a grouP during the
**Analysis**
The text discusses the development priorities for the least developed countries, with a focus on agriculture and food production. It highlights the importance of achieving food self-sufficiency and increasing agricultural production to meet the growing population's needs. The text also mentions the decline of per capita food production and the need for international assistance. Based on this, it seems that the text is primarily concerned with economic development and agriculture, with implications for humanitarian aid and relief.

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