Remote sensing and African development programmes

The ailing African economy for the past fifteen years was analyzed and stressed in some great detail. Limited application of science and the low level of technology were given among the root causes of Africa's economic backwardness. Lack information and data on African member States' natural endowments continue to impede the rate of development of those resources and have tended to bedevil the attainment of the principles of self-reliance, self-sufficiency and self-sustainment. Remote Sensing as a tool to close the information and data hiatus required for rational planning and development, and control of the environment received a great attention. References were made to sub-regional and regional technical co-operation ventures aimed at paving the way for provision of adequate, timely and reliable data for planning. In particular, the ECA -sponsored Regional Training Centres were seen as vehicles for realizing those goals.