The merger was made to make the Commission more effective in its operation and more able in responding to the needs of member countries.  Moreover, it was meant to further strengthen the adopted multidisciplinary approach and programmes of integrated and comprehensive agricultural and rural development.  ALAWUC is established to provide a forum through which member countries can exchange information and experience, promote regional and sub-regional technical cooperation in fields of mutual interest and undertake joint programme of work.  An added benefit would be the help to FAO in identifying issues and problems of common interest to member countries, which would assist the organization in formulating of future work programmes including promotion of regional co-operation to overcome the identified problems on water resources management, sustainable land use, completion of data relating to development and conservation of the land/water resources in the Region; promotion of programmes for food production, plant protection, animal health and livestock production, development of agricultural research systems, and identification of efficient agricultural services to farmers, etc.