By Chengetai Madziwa – SANF 04 no 02
The regional food security situation has improved and SADC is working towards long-term strategies to avoid future shortages, but food security continues to have top priority at the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) directorate in 2004.
“As a long-term solution to the food security problem, SADC has developed a strategic plan to boost food, to promote trade, increase preparedness and to encourage member states to increase investment for longer term development,” SADC’s Executive Secretary, Dr Prega Ramsamy said at a year-end briefing in Gaborone.
Strategies including irrigation development and water management as well as a Regional Food Reserve Facility are being developed to strengthen capacity to respond to food emergencies.
Improved rainfall this season as well as national agricultural programmes have contributed to cereal production in the region, which has improved by six percent.
At a national level, some member states have launched programmes to provide subsidised inputs to the agricultural sector, particularly in the six countries most affected by the 2002-3 drought (Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe).
Provision of seed to farmers was one of the major programmes launched by governments in the region.
Unlike last season, the region now has an adequate supply of seed. However, there is need to improve the systems for distribution of seed within the region. At present, South Africa, Malawi and Zambia have adequate supplies of seed while Zimbabwe has high demand and acute shortages.
As a long-term measure, activities of programmes such as the SADC Seed Security Network (SSSN) are being strengthened to improve farmers’ accessibility to seed.
SADC is optimistic that the remaining cereal deficit of almost three million tonnes will be filled following the predictions by weather experts of normal to above normal rainfall in the 2003-2004 season. However, the region will continue to work closely with the World Food Programme and other UN agencies in countries where humanitarian assistance is required, Ramsamy said.
In seeking food assistance, there has been cautious about the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) food. Although the region has no harmonized position on GMOs, the SADC Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and Biosafety (SACBB) has been developing guidelines on how to deal with biotechnology and bio-safety.
Member states have been encouraged to develop national biotechnology policies and strategies and a regional meeting on GMOs is planned for January 2004 to take stock of the progress made at the national level in establishing legislation. Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe have effected the necessary legislation to date, while Mauritius, Tanzania and Zambia are making good progress.
The incidence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe has affected food security in the region. Realising the need to take urgent action to control the spread of animal diseases, SADC prepared a technical dossier for the control of FMD over the next three years, and made an appeal to its International Cooperating Partners for US$26 million to combat animal diseases.
Fisheries also play an important role in food security and health as well as safeguarding the livelihood of fishing communities and generating economic opportunities. The SADC Protocol on Fisheries came into force in August 2003 and addresses, among other things, the issue of sustainable use of marine resources.
In order to continue strengthening regional food security and natural resources management, the FANR directorate has set the following priorities for 2004-2005:
- Promotion of crop, livestock and fisheries production to improve food availability, product accessibility and safety;
- Facilitate the control of transboundary animal diseases, particularly the Foot and Mouth Disease;
- Promotion of measures to protect the environment from degradation, and sustainable use of natural resources, with emphasis on inland fisheries, forestry and wildlife;
- Strengthen the development and dissemination of agriculture production technologies and training in agricultural research. (SARDC)
