Les politiques alimentaires sont-elles adaptees aux changements d'habitudes alimentaires en Afrique au sud du Sahara ?

In the South of Sahara part of Africa, the more and more increasing food imports do not necessarily mean a generalized impoverishment of food production or the adoption of western food patterns, particularly in urban areas. The food habits are still largely independent of supply conditions, but relative prices of various products are beginning to stress upon the evolution of market demand. The low prices of imported cereals create unfavourable condition principally to small farmers. Food policies are based on hypotheses contrary to those proposed in this paper, and are first aimed to meet the financial requirements of the states. They are difficult to modify and helpless to solve food problems. Particularly, they do not take into account solutions offered by alimentary craftsmen and eating houses, and prefer copied or naturalized agro-industrial products too expensive and few appreciated.