of the Sahara are expanding, and 50,000 to 70,O0O sc. kn. of useful agricultural land are t.urning j.nlo desert each year. Viewed from this persPective, the present drought. deuastating as it is. rnay be only an episode in a much nore deadly long-term general deterioration of the African environment, wbich the reeurn of the rains may only partially and tenporarily al)-eviale' 330. Third, African covernments bave generally neglected agriculture since independence. A majority of African countries devote to agriculture less tban l0 per cent of their public expenditures for all sectors. They also tend to set low agricultural prices, at least partly co placate urban dwellers, which has d iscouraged food production. 331. Those tbree factors are non converging and reinforcing each other ln a truly devastating fashion. ft is nor., becorning clear that sitbout inmediate and nassive action on the part of the African Governnenls and tbe international conrnunity to attack all three prof,lens forcefully and sinultaneously, the deterioration of African agriculture in general, and of food production in particular, lti11 continue and nay even accelerate. 2. Structural- cbanges 332, since independence, nost African countries have been undergoing structural changes, whereby the proportion of cDP and lahour force in agriculture has declined while chat in industry and services has increased. As sbown in table 60' this structural change has proceeded a! about the satoe rate in sub-Saharan Africa as in the lor.r-income developing countries as a whole.A/ 40 / 5r9 Engli sh Page I73 Table 60, Distribution of gross dooestic product (Percentage) Agriculture1960 1982Industrv 1960 1982Manufacturinq services1960 L982 1960 r98 2 Sub-Saharan Afr ica All low-incone developing countr ies40 3l35 25 I427 32t7 55 3747 49 source: Economic commission for Africa, situation of Food and Aqriculture inE1sg., p' :r.
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the issues affecting African agriculture, including the expansion of the Sahara desert, drought, and structural changes in the economy. It also discusses the consequences of these issues on food production and the economy as a whole. The text's emphasis on agricultural land, food production, and economic development suggests that it is more relevant to categories related to agriculture and economic development.

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