We hear stories of churches and synagogues who have committed their entire budgets to providing food assistance. and of everyday Americans who have made great financial sacrifices to aid the starving. The U.S. Government has responded in a similar fashion. we now provide about half of total world aid and will spend $1 billion this year in food aid. disaster. and refugee assistance. But in meeting the emergency food needs of Africa caused by the acts of nature. we should also insure that the acts of government are those which will help Africa feed itself. Over the past two decades. per capita food production in Africa has dropped by 20 percent.