§ 82. Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution has been made in 1987 by the Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute to the long-term alleviation of famine conditions in east and central Africa.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute is engaged in a variety of projects which all contribute to the long-term alleviation of famine in east and central Africa. Its research, advisory and field management work there ranges across food security and seed stocks, control of insect pests, improved processing of poor people's food crops such as sorghum, millet and cassava, livestock systems, resettlement projects and coordination of climate studies. Earlier this year I allocated some £6.8 million to ODNRI to strengthen the institute's programme of work on insect pest problems affecting rural populations in Africa.