1.
SV PAN DOWN EXT. Conference Building.
0.05

2.
MV M. Mankambou Nanguy. Chairman of Conference, greets Secretary Mr. Subash Mazumdar and Vice-Chairman, Mr. K. P. Rhodes.
0.14

3.
MV Delegates seated.
0.19

4.
CU of U.K. delegate.
0.22

5.
SV Cameroon delegate seated at table.
0.27

6.
SV Nigerian and Ghanaian delegates.
1.30

7.
MCU Zambian delegate. PAN TO other delegates.
0.40

8.
MV Pineapples loaded onto lorry.
1.46

9.
SV Pineapples on conveyor belt.
0.53

10.
SV PAN FROM pineapples on conveyor belt to coach carrying delegates departing factory.
1.07



Initials BB/1915 VS 9.08



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Delegates from 24 African countries have been attending the seventh session of the African Commission on Agricultural Statistics which was held at Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast.

The Commission's bi-annual meeting, which ran from the 28th of January to the 3rd of February, was also attended by officials of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O.) and an observer from the United Kingdom.

The main task of the conference was to consider the draft programme of the 1980 World Census of Agriculture with the aim of ensuring that it adequately reflects the conditions and needs of Africa.

The Commission also reviewed recent developments in agricultural statistics in member countries, the work of the F.A.O. in this field, and the progress of promotion and training programmes.

The Commission was founded 14 years ago with three main aims: the improvement of agricultural statistics; the better use of statistics for agricultural planning and the training of African statisticians.

Among those to address the Commission was Mr. Moise Mensah, F.A.O. Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa. He said that Africa has the will and technical ability to improve the standard of living of its people by the better application of agricultural statistics to the growing problems of food production.

To supplement the Commission's discussions, delegates visited actual growing and processing sites -- such as a local pineapple factory.