Aids and drought have had a devastating effect

The World Food Programme says it will concentrate on distributing nutritional supplements to HIV/Aids sufferers.

Millions of agricultural workers in Africa are dying from Aids, in countries already struggling to become self-sufficient in food supplies.

Good nutrition will help individuals remain healthy and productive.

Strategy

The programme, which will start in April, will run alongside the World Health Organisation's campaign to get three million people in Africa onto retroviral therapy by 2005.

WFP is planning to give HIV-positive individuals food supplements when they receive treatment.

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WFP head James Morris said he believed a long-term recovery strategy was now needed rather than just a short-term food supply operation.

A BBC science reporter says good nutrition increases the body's ability to fight infections and may improve effectiveness of drug treatments.

This will mean that individuals will stay healthy - and therefore able to work - for longer, improving economies and preventing children from becoming orphans.