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THE Common Market for Eastern Africa (COMESA) should remain focused on improving the continent’s productivity capacities across all its sectors.
This should urgently address agriculture production, food security, climate change and private development, which will enhance intra-regional and continental trade.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga said this on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, during the COMESA Policy Organ meeting in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.
Therefore, it is necessary for the region to ensure that value addition and agriculture programmes including seed development programmes, food safety, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures are implemented to enhance agriculture productivity.
“In addition, incentivising private sector investments in agriculture and ensuring support to women and youth are effectively implemented as envisaged in the treaty,” Mulenga says.
However, COMESA notes some progress achieved in increasing agricultural productivity and production among its member states.
COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe observes that food and nutrition insecurity remained a major challenge in the region, exacerbated by climate-induced shocks and conflicts.
Eritrea Ambassador to Zambia Beyene Russom confers with Commerce Minister Chipoka Mulenga (C) and COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe during the 43rd meeting of the COMESA Inter-Governmental Committee at the Kenneth Kaunda Wing of the Mulungushi International Conference Centre. Picture by THOMAS NSAMA/ZANIS
Kapwepwe highlighted some initiatives they were implementing to strengthen regional Agri-food data and information systems
“These are regional food balances sheets, reduce post-harvest losses, promote food safety, as well as enhance agriculture commodity aggregation,” she says.
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