Hunger and river basin development in Africa: Some socioeconomic issues

New concerns with African drought and famine have redirected attention to the great potential of African rivers dramatically to increase food production. The recent history of irrigation, however, has proved otherwise. This is partly due to policy makers' failure systematically to consider the socio-economics of land/water use in river basins in their development plans. This paper focuses on the socioeconomic dimensions of African river basin development and argues that a better incorporation of such systems in development plans will aid African countries more effectively to achieve their food production and development goals.