TABLE LIST................................................................................................................... iii

FIGURE LIST ................................................................................................................. iv

SYMBOLS ...................................................................................................................... vi

1.

INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 1

2.

POPULATION.......................................................................................................... 3

2.1.

African Group .................................................................................................... 4

2.2.

Arab Group ........................................................................................................ 4

2.3.

Asian Group ....................................................................................................... 4

3.

ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE COMCEC ECONOMY ................................ 5

3.1.

African Group .................................................................................................... 6

3.2.

Arab Group ........................................................................................................ 6

3.3.

Asian Group ....................................................................................................... 7

4.

LAND USE AND POPULATION IN THE COMCEC MEMBER COUNTRIES .. 8

4.1.

African Group .................................................................................................. 11

4.2.

Arab Group ...................................................................................................... 11

4.3.

Asian Group ..................................................................................................... 11

5.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY ............................... 13

6.

CLIMATE ............................................................................................................... 15

6.1.

African Group .................................................................................................. 16

6.2.

Arab Group ...................................................................................................... 17

6.3.

Asian Group ..................................................................................................... 18

7.

WATER RESOURCES........................................................................................... 21

7.1.

African Group .................................................................................................. 23

7.2.

Arab Group ...................................................................................................... 25

7.3.

Asian Group ..................................................................................................... 26

8.

WATER WITHDRAWAL IN THE COMCEC MEMBER COUNTRIES ............ 28

8.1.

African Group .................................................................................................. 29

8.2.

Arab Group ...................................................................................................... 30

8.3.

Asian Group ..................................................................................................... 30

9.

IRRIGATION.......................................................................................................... 32