UN General Assembly
2011

in the United States and Europe than in Africa — for example, in Zimbabwe? We need to ask the question and find solutions. In Senegal, we have addressed the issue with a plan that we call the Grand Agricultural Offensive for Food and Abundance to deal with the productivity 11-50847 8 differentials between Senegal and certain Italian regions. It has allowed us to move from being, in 2007, dependent on others for food to the status of a country that has achieved food self-sufficiency. This year we may even be able to begin exporting, which is a remarkable achievement. I must say that we have been helped by chance, since fertilizer constitutes at least 30 per cent of costs, and our fertilizer can be used directly, without any preparation. Moreover, friendly countries helped us acquire important equipment on very favourable conditions over a long term. The scope and complexity of the Organization’s tasks put in perspective its successes and its setbacks. But what determines our commitment to the institution, what gives hope to the peoples that we represent here,