Addressing seminar delegates, Khama expressed fear that available data indicated an approximately 21 percent decline in cereal production compared to 2014. He rightly observed that crop production declined during the 2014/15 rainfall season as a result of prolonged dry spells in Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia which also extended to the maize belt of South Africa, southern Angola and southern Zimbabwe.
At the same time, Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique were affected by both floods and dry spells manifesting in all southern African member states experiencing significant decreases in cereal outputs.
The president further observed that that the effect of the recurring droughts in the region has not spared the livestock sub-sector as reflected in a loss of grazing, diminished water resources and increased incidences and prevalence of animal diseases, resulting in high mortalities in some countries in the region.
Consequently, the latest figures indicate slow growth in livestock production, while SADC as whole remains a net importer of livestock products. Such dire reports, of course, have far reaching implications given that agriculture, particularly livestock production remains an economic mainstay for most of the southern African region.
Khama gravely noted that according to SADC Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Synthesis Reports, 40 percent of all SADC citizens are currently living in abject poverty.
“It is for this reason that poverty eradication has become the overarching objective for the SADC regional integration agenda. As partners in this initiative our main aim is to enhance the standards of living and quality of life of all our people. As you may recall, it was our recognition of the need to eradicate poverty that in 2008, in Mauritius, we decided to establish a Regional Poverty Observatory (RPO). This regional structure was created to oversee the implementation of the agreed poverty eradication strategies, while managing a region wide information and data base”, said president Khama.
He said it may further be noted three specific objectives of the RPO formed part of the basis for his call for the seminar so as to intensify dialogue on regional dimensions of poverty, strengthening of collective efforts to address poverty through regional cooperation and integration as well promoting dialogue on the partnerships necessary to obtain the number one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SGDs) which is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
Khama added that combating regional food insecurity and poverty in all of its forms required an array of multifaceted actions underpinned by the political and conducive policies in the case of agriculture.
Food security and poverty cannot be addressed in isolation. It rather requires that the practices and policies of various sectors be harmonised to address food security and poverty as a common agenda.
“We must further ensure that at all times fully engage marginalised groups, namely the youth and women, as well as the poor, in our efforts to improve agricultural production and avail the necessary resources that facilitate their access. Let us remain cognisant of our ongoing regional efforts to address the above challenges.
In terms of poverty, these include the establishment of RPO with its steering committees; the development and adoption of the Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) as an alternative poverty measure for member states and stakeholders. In terms of food security, let us be mindful of the Food and Nutrition Strategy, as approved by the SADC Summit in 2013; and the Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP), which was endorsed by the SADC Council of Ministers in 2014. I here note that the RAP Investment Plan is yet to be finalized,” said Khama to the seminar delegates.
President further observed that the latest climate data confirmed that the southern Africa region is indeed facing its worst drought conditions in over two decades which will result in a decline in local food production, accompanied by a continued rise in food process.
It is thus expected that the SADC region will be confronted with growing levels of food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition.
He explained that given the severity of the looming crisis, the seminar has brought policy makers and implementers of SADC decisions, as well as independent experts and representatives of civil society, to take stock of the situation and thus enable them to adopt both long and short term mitigation measures.
He also hoped that the gathering would explore practical and innovative ways of accelerating the attainment of the region’s commitment to secure dignified livelihoods for all its people through the universal provision of their basic needs.
Khama’s concerns should not be taken lightly. Indeed most southern African countries are facing their worst drought in decades and no efforts should be spared to address the looming crisis in a region that is prone to inequalities that result in devastating hunger for the people.
It is important that all stakeholders put their heads together and formulate strategies beyond the approved SADC strategies to surmount the looming drought crisis which is likely to decimate the region’s populations.
Food is a basic necessity without which people can never be said to live dignified lives. Dignified living entails healthy eating without which most populations become incapacitated to achieve their aspirations in a competitive world.
Democracy for the region should entail sufficient food supplies especially that most countries emerging from devastating wars colonialism and inequalities where the rich get richer while the poorer to the extent of failing to fend for themselves and turning to criminal activities as a last resort to address their plight.
