Extract: Program and policy officials involved in the work of allocating and shipping food aid from donor to recipient countries should know not only how much food each recipient country requires in a given year but also when food must be delivered to each country during that year to provide maximum benefit to those in need. In addition to basic information such as planting and harvesting periods, other factors such as usual food-deficit or "hungry" periods, rainfall seasons, and customary shipping time requirements are also relevant to determining the optimal time for food aid delivery. This reference document provides such information for major staple crops in the countries of Africa

This report is the second in a series of three evaluating underexploited African plant resources that could help broaden and secure Africa's food supply. The volume describes the characteristics of 18 little-known indigenous African vegetables (including tubers and legumes) that have potential as food- and cash-crops but are typically overlooked by scientists and policymakers and in the world at large. The book assesses the potential of each vegetable to help overcome malnutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and create sustainable landcare in Africa. Each species is described in a separate chapter, based on information gathered from and verified by a pool of experts throughout the world. Volume I describes African grains and Volume III African fruits.