A promise for ESAFF to work with SADC

01-04-2011

01-04-2011

There is  a new development that all ESAFF members should be happy about -a new partnership in the offing with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

SADC’s Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources directorate (FANR) met in Gaborone recently with leaders of Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers (ESAFF) and had deliberations that culminated in a promise of information sharing in order to push for policy implementation.

In most African countries getting information or data from governments on timely basis remains an uphill task.

FANR Acting Director Mr. Bentry Chaula said the body was ready to partner with small scale farmers to speed up agriculture policies implementation in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.

He said FANR will assists in availing necessary information regarding SADC member states that have signed protocols on food security and agricultural development to ESAFF members.

“It is high time for small scale farmers to partner with SADC in the push for implementation of many policies aimed at ensuring food security and agriculture development in the region,” he said.

He said that many policies are adopted and African Union (AU) and SADC level but needed a push to ensure there is enough adherence and adequate implementation at country level.

 “SADC Secretariat is not an implementer of these agreements but member countries are the one that are obliged to implement these agreements… and organised small scale farmers have the opportunity to hold governments into account to ensure timely and effective implementation”.

Small scale farmers had mini caravans organised to visit regional economic communities: COMESA (Zambia) and SADC (Botswana) to share and exchange experience on various issues affecting agriculture development in the region.

Speaking at the same meeting, small scale farmer leaders said they are now struggling to organise themselves to influence policies from grassroots to districts and national levels. The most important areas is to ensure that small scale farmers’ needs and aspirations reflected in policy processes including the agriculture budget “ we have been doing agriculture budgeting campaigns (ABC) in our national levels while strengthening our organisations” said Elizabeth Mpofu a  farmer and chairperson of ESAFF. She added that nothing can be achieved without passionate people while nothing can be sustainable without strong institutions in which ESAFF invests in role model leaders and in a strong national ESAFF chapters.

The meeting was attended by high level officials of FANR led by its Acting Director Mr. Bentry Chaula, Mr. Duncun Samikwa, Mr. Patrick Tawonezvi,  Mr. Beedeeanan Hulman, Mr. Misheck Mulumba among others.

The overall objective of the FANR Directorate is to develop, promote, coordinate and facilitate harmonisation of policies and programs meant to increase agricultural and natural resources productivity and to promote trade, ensure food security and sustainable economic development in the region. The region also is on the process to introduce the regional agriculture policy which is at the higher level of its making.

Speaking after the meeting with SADC a farmer leaders from Kenya, Moses Shaha said  it was worth travelling by road over 3000 Kilometres from Lusaka to Gaborone to meet policy makers within SADC “It was a professional meeting and we have gained a lot. We as ESAFF should be much equipped with information and should use the available lobbying opportunities at country level and at both COMESA and SADC… next step for lobbying and engagements should be at the AU level in Addis Ababa”