Online Reporter
Chronicle Writer
THE United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has stressed the urgent need for a more coordinated regional strategy to achieve food security in Eastern Africa while tackling the enduring challenges of trade barriers.
This emerged on the sidelines of the ongoing 57th session of the ECA’s Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development where Professor Mthuli Ncube is attending as outgoing chairperson.
The event, entitled “Food Security and Cross-Border Trade: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities Amid the Implementation of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” was organized by the ECA’s Subregional Office for Eastern Africa and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) on Sunday.
It brought together senior officials and experts to discuss the dynamics of food security and cross-border trade within the context of the AfCFTA.
Speakers at the event highlighted that while the Eastern Africa region has recently experienced a growing food trade deficit, it is not that large, representing just 0.3 percent of regional Gross Domestic Product and, with the right policies, achieving collective food security is an attainable goal.
Acting Director of ECA in Eastern Africa, Mr Andrew Mold, said in the early 2000s, the region transitioned from being a net food exporter to becoming a net importer, with substantial disparities across countries and commodities.
“A number of countries in our region now sustain large food trade deficits. However, the region is also home to several countries, which are net food exporters. Tanzania and Uganda, in particular, have emerged as leading food exporters, with notable surpluses in key commodities such as maize,” he said.
Experts at the meeting stressed that the AfCFTA could provide a rapid pathway to achieving greater regional food security. The AfCFTA is an important mechanism to boost intra-regional food trade, particularly in processed agri-food products.
“Simulations undertaken by ECA suggest that intra-continental food trade could increase by more than 60 percent by 2045 if the AfCFTA is fully implemented. Greater regional cooperation in removing the remaining barriers to intra-African trade offers a path to supply chain resilience in the sector, and ultimately better food security,” he said.
FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, Farayi Zimudzi, highlighted the pressing issue of low agricultural productivity amidst rapid population growth in Africa.
“It is imperative that our agricultural production systems keep pace with population growth,” she stressed.
“Increasing investment in research and development, particularly in high-yield crop varieties and improved livestock, must be prioritized.”
Channing Arndt, a Research Professor and Director of the Center for Global Trade Analysis, said that the persistent issue of high tariffs and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) continues to impede the free movement of agricultural products in Africa.
The session was moderated by Jane Nalunga, Director of SEATINI-Uganda who reiterated the importance of leveraging digital solutions and sustainable agricultural practices for Africa’s food security.
She called on researchers to explore how technological advancements and green innovations can transform food systems and build resilience.
The event also advocated for the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) to address productivity challenges and enhance agricultural investment across the continent. CAADP is aimed at increasing food security and nutrition, reducing rural poverty, creating employment, and contributing to economic development while safeguarding the environment.
Moreover, CAADP aims for a six per cent annual growth rate in the agricultural sector, with African Union member states allocating at least 10 per cent of their budgets to agriculture.
The side event concluded with a resounding call for strengthened regional cooperation to implement the AfCFTA, through the elimination of trade barriers to food stuffs, while increasing investment in agricultural development to ensure a food-secure future for Eastern Africa and the Continent as a whole.
