By Josiah Mpofu
The Kingdom of Eswatini has reaffirmed its partnership with Zambia to enhance agricultural productivity.
Eswatini Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary Sydney Simelane said this would help to advance food security and promote sustainable development for both countries.
Mr Simelane emphasized that there is need for Africa to collaborate in order to improve the continent’s food systems.
He noted that with enhanced collaboration, Africa has the potential to achieve internal food security and play a huge role in feeding the entire world.
Mr Simelane indicated that Africa has more productive land that could create a food and agribusiness economy that would transform the continent into a net exporter of agricultural produce.
“Africa has vast and fertile land which could create a food and agribusiness economy worth $1 trillion by 2030 and turn Africa from a net importer of food into a net exporter. More investment in research and development is required as it is key in increasing productivity,” indicated Mr Simelane.
He emphasized that with various challenges such as wars and climate change effects affecting economies worldwide, there is need for Africa to become self-reliance regarding food systems.
Mr Simelane said this when his delegation paid a courtesy call on FAO Country representative Suzy Percy Fillipini at her office in Lusaka.
And Ms Fillipini disclosed that the UN agency has developed various initiatives aimed at improving biodiversity for enhanced food and agricultural production.
Ms Fillipini reiterated that Zambia is gifted with huge resource base of natural resources and rich biological diversity that supports agricultural production and productivity.
“Zambia is gifted with huge resource base of natural resources and rich biological diversity that is crucial for agricultural development. Zambia has aquatic vegetation and wildlife as well as wide genetic diversity of agro-biodiversity,” reiterated Ms Fillipini.
She stated that the backbone of Zambia’s economy relies on natural resources comprising forestry, fisheries and agro biodiversity.
“Zambia’s population depends on these natural resources for fuel, food, income, raw materials and medicines. Food and livelihood security of local communities in Zambia depend on the sustained management of various biological resources that are important for enhancing the national food basket,” noted Ms Fillipini.
Ms Fillipini emphasized the need to value and appreciate ecosystems and biodiversity in order to boost the continent’s food systems.
“FAO’s desires to improve biodiversity for food, agriculture and income generation from agro-ecosystems which include crops, livestock, fish species and forestry products,” stated Ms Fillipini.
She further said the UN Agency was providing millions of farmers with climate-smart agricultural technologies in order to strengthen their resilience and improve household food security and nutrition. -NAIS
