A high level meeting for the alliance for commodity trade in eastern and southern Africa-actesa has opened in lusaka drawing participates from across the African continent and the international community.
This is the third stakeholder meeting being sponsored by the world bank, European union, world food programme, Australian government initiative , department for international development, usaid and alliance for green revolution in africa to explore opportunities for enhanced partnership in regional commodity production, trade and value addition.
Various stakeholders at the meeting have called for harmonization of legal regulations on agricultural products as well as value addition on the produce form farmers.
Zambia’s agriculture minister peter daka stressed the issues of food security in the region need concerted effort if it is to be addressed.
Mr daka says food insecurity undermines the overall development process in the region and that it is therefore critical that actesa works to producer an appropriate trade and marketing agenda that will motivate producers to become sustainable and reliable producers for the huge region.
He adds that there is need to ensure that people who produce, or consume the agricultural products have a change in the mind set so that farmers can in the end have value for their money.
Mr daka states that the Africa has to come of age especially on the publicity on poverty levels in the continent but should instead focus on wealth creation.
And comesa secretary general sindiso ngwenya said the agriculture sector in the region still faces a number of challenges such as climate change, pests and diseases, infrastructure, market access especially with the coming in of the private market standards in the eu.
Mr ngwenya adds that there is therefore need to go as a united front in addressing these issues for the good of the whole region and further challenging farmers to embrace value addition to their products.
And actesa steering committee chairman dr Philip kiriro indicated that progress has being made in ensuring that actesa is making grounds since its inception.
Dr kiriro was however hast to note that there is further need for resource mobilization if the programmes they are set are to be achieved.
And the usaid officer representing the cooperating partners dr peter ewell said the cooperating are committed to ensuring that this projects succeeds as it will help mitigate the problem of soaring food prices and insecurity.
Meanwhile government in the comesa region and beyond have being challenged to ensure that they embrace the paradigm shift if they issue of food insecurity is to be a thing of the past.
Alliance for commodity trade in eastern and southern Africa-actesa chief executive officer Chris muyunda says there is need to embrace the private sector as they play a critical role in enhancing and adding the agriculture sector.
Dr muyunda adds that there is further need to fully empower women and youths as they form the largest labour force and can turn around the issues of food security regionally.
He states that there is also need to focus on high impact value chain on the agriculture products and called on leaders to move from mere talk to implementation of policies and programmes.
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