People in Southern Africa demand for more Social Accountability in the Agriculture Sector

25 Apr 2019 , , , , , ,

Lusaka, March 2019.

People in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have called for Member States to progressively allocate budgets to agriculture to reach the Malabo Declaration target of at least 10% % to sustain annual agricultural GDP growth of at least 6% annually

Small scale farmers, CSOs and law makers from national parliaments and the Regional SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) says national investments in agriculture should align with farmers own priorities and focus on financing diversified smallholder support programs, such as extension services, research, climate change adaptation, input support, improving access to finance and market

They were speaking at the 3rd Regional Budget Summit on Strengthening Social Accountability in Health and Agriculture in Southern Africa, co-hosted by the Partnership for Social Accountability (PSA) Alliance and the SADC PF.

The Summit was held in Lusaka, Zambia bringing representatives from Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia recently

In the Communiqué released at the Summit, delegates urged SADC Secretariat to urgently operationalize the established SADC Food and Nutrition Security Regional Steering Committee as formed during the SADC Food and Nutrition Security Strategy Forum in Malawi (2014), which is to advise on regional food and nutrition policy frameworks and strategies

They also called upon SADC Member States to support innovative research and development to develop and redirection of funds towards the adoption of agro ecological practices such as use of community-based seed systems, improvement of soil fertility through increasing soil organic matter, integrated pest management as opposed to hybrid seed and chemically intensive agriculture

The Summit in Lusaka recommend the supreme audit institutions of Member States to conduct performance audits of their agricultural extension services and conduct forensic audits of all farmers support programs with a focus on Farm Input Support Programs (FISP) to identify and address the systematic internal control weaknesses that allow for misuse of funds and in enabling small holder farmers particularly women to sustainably contribute to the realization of food security goals in the region

The Communiqué was submitted to SADC Secretariat, and the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit scheduled for August 2019.

The PSA alliance for social accountability in southern Africa is made of ESAFF, Actionaid South Africa, SAfaids and PSAM – Rhodes University in South Africa. To read the entire communique click here http://esaffsouthafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Communique-Budget-Summit_07-March-2019_Lusaka.pdf

ESAFF SA & Southern Africa Trust held CAADP Farmers’ Information day

18 Oct 2018 , , , , ,

The 17th October 2018, marked the first collaborative event between Southern Africa Trust (SAT) and ESAFF SA, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) farmers’ information day. The information day was aimed at reviewing the implementation of CAADP in the Limpopo province and to come up with strategies that farmers’ advocacy campaigns can employ to ensure the full realization of the Malabo declaration goals by 2025. The event took place in Ngwaaga a Moloto Eco-Tourism Village, Bolatjane village (formerly known as Hweleshaneg), Limpopo province.

 

The event had well over 130 participants, the engagements led to a groundbreaking dialogue that advocated for the rights of women towards land ownership. It was through this engagement where the Royal houses (member of the provincial traditional council) re-assured female farmers that they will issue Permission to Occupy (PTO) in their names when requested. Also, the government affirmed that women are now taking a leading in agriculture in the Limpopo province. The Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDA) added that it even has awards for top women entrepreneurs, it was added that the women are viewed not as “farmers” but rather as “entrepreneurs” as farming is a business. Mrs Noko Malahlela of LDA added that the awards are “just to say thank you for the work they do to feed the nation”.

Youth attend the 2018 CAADP Farmers Information Day and advocate for #ZeroHunger by 2025

 

Despite South Africa being said to be on track towards achieving the Malabo Declaration goals according to the Africa Union (AU), the country remains far from ending hunger by 2025 if agricultural budget allocation remains at 1.1% of the total national budget and the farmer support funds disbursement remains cumbersome. Hence, the farmers and the royal houses encouraged youth participation in agriculture to avoid the trend of “ageing farmers” and added that the vibrancy of youth can drive agriculture in Limpopo towards ending hunger by 2025. The 2018 CAADP Farmers information Day was made possible with Financial support from Southern Africa Trust.

 

 

Search

+