Agriculture is often a major part of any countries' economy. It not only serves as a means of feeding the nations' people, but also may serve as an excellent export to other countries. We are all familiar with Florida Oranges, Idaho Potatoes, and even Wisconsin Cheese. These have become famous for their unique taste or perhaps just marketability, which is an important strategy of foodstuffs next to the transportation systems. For example, because ours in the U.S. are up to date, it allows us to get certain crops, such as rice from Japan in a timely, low cost manner. However, in the SADC (Southern African Development Council) it is not that easy. Throughout this paper we will take a look at why that is from past to present, define agricultural development and offer reasons why an adequate transport system is necessary.

African agricultural development history can be broken down into four periods: Pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial and present day. There is similarities and differences between these periods that may offer some insight to how Africa grew into the situations they now face.

Agriculture is Africa's most important sector. Approximately 35% of GDP, 40% of exports and 75% of employment is accounted for through agriculture. However, data shows us that between 1981 and 1992 per capita agricultural production in SADC countries declined. Population has outgrown production and land use and again delayed the arrival for inadequate transport systems.

An appropriate definition for "inadequate" transport systems could be defined as: attempting to minimize the cost of inputs at the agricultural enterprise and cost of inputs at the delivery by lowering costs of physically moving inputs and outputs to maximize time utility. Road transportation is by far the most important method of transportation. It also plays a large role in not only the economy, but also social development of a region. Presently, not much has changed in the area of regional transport systems. Costs of inputs are higher due to the cost of delivery. This also makes it difficult to move perishable items out in a quick enough manner. Once a useful transport system is formed and put into action the SADC region may be able to establish a foothold and grow back into self-sufficiency.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Agriculture Africa's, Development Council, SADC Roadways, Africans Transport, Wisconsin Cheese, Systems Agriculture, transport systems, Bus Policy, food security, Food Security, inadequate transport systems, cost inputs, transport system, transportation systems, inadequate transport, agricultural development,
Approximate Word count = 867
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)