to meet the ··rowinq food needs of their populaticPs. They can. This becomes clear if account is taken of the fact that over-all focd production car:acity is the appropriate "Supply variable that influences the level of cereal inports. 36 E/ECA/CM.9/5 Table IV.A.S Breakdo,.rn of cereal imports to develcpino Africa, 1980 Ce r~tral Africa Ar.qcla U1~ited Republic of Zaire Others Volume (Ters of tcnnes) 102 240 30 ?45 Caraerocn 13 390 40 500 18 105 Eastern a r..d southern Africa 336 397 Ethiopia 42 G23 Kenya 38 811 Mozambique 41 ?.75 United Republic cf Ta nza r,ia 38 S39 Zambia 49 900 Others 125 149 North Africa 1 270 516 Alqeria 29/. 178 Eqypt 602 277 t-iorocco 182 084 Others 193 477 \;est Africa 379 523 Ivory Coast 42 030 Niqeria 176 190 Seneqal 42 055 Others 119 248 Dt:!Ve l OfJ i nq Africa 2 088 676 Share cf total (Perce ntaoe} 4.90 1.45 0.64 1.94 0.87 16.11 2.04 1.86 1. 98 1.85 2.39 5.99 60.83 13.99 28.86 8.72 9. 26 18.17 2.01 8.44 2.01 5.71 lfiO.OO ----------------------------------------------------------------Source: Fi\0 Trade Yearbcck 198C (Rc,me, FAO, 1981). 29. Ir. a larae r.ur:;ber of Africar ccurtries, imports of fccd- qrains have beer, risinq at ar. alanr.ir:a rate -a trer:d which qO!::?s aqairst the notion of self-reliance er:ur,ciat-=d ir the Laqos Plal:' of Action. At one e r.d of the de vel cpme r>t srectrun are countries such a& Eqypt ar,d Mozambique, which in 1980 !.ractically mortqaqed ever a third of tlleir export earni r.qs for cereal iiPnorts. The 1respcrdirq percer:taqes ir 1970 v:ere 9.2 ard 5 per cert. Ir Somalia, the tre rd is ever; more friqhte ri rc: cereal import:::: were equivaler:t to ever twc thin.Js of tctal merchurdise expco::-ts in 1S80. Ir, BeLir:, Etbicpia, Cuirea, r-:adaaascar, r.~orc,cco, S..!neoill 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the food needs of African countries and their reliance on cereal imports. It provides statistical data on cereal imports by region and country, and highlights the increasing trend of cereal imports in many African countries. The text also mentions the notion of self-reliance and the challenges faced by some countries in meeting their food needs. Given the focus on food production and imports, it seems likely that the text is related to the agricultural sector.

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