Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Summit on Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture begins here today, with delegates from across the region gathering to deliberate on strategies to strengthen food systems and expand the blue economy amid rising climate and geopolitical risks.
The high-level meeting brings together ministers responsible for agriculture, food security, fisheries and aquaculture from all 16 SADC Member States, alongside senior officials and technical experts.
The summit is expected to focus on regional efforts to improve food and nutrition security, accelerating agricultural transformation, and harnessing opportunities within the blue economy as Member States confront increasing climate shocks, disease outbreaks and global supply chain disruptions.
Zimbabwe, as host, says preparations are complete and expectations are high for a decisive and solutions-oriented meeting.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, said Member States had begun arriving in Victoria Falls ahead of the summit, expressing optimism about strong participation.
“We have just arrived for the SADC conference on agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture. We are expecting all the SADC member states to attend,” said Prof Jiri upon arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport.
“We expect today all the member states to start to arrive. In Zimbabwe, we are very excited. We want this to be a conference to remember.”
Prof Jiri said the timing of the summit was critical as the region faces multiple emerging threats affecting agricultural production and food systems.
“It comes at a time when we are facing the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, which is stretching our supply lines,” he said.
“It comes at a time when climate change is real and advancing, and we need to find solutions to climate change. It comes at a time when there is talk of a super El Niño that is coming, and we need as a SADC region to be able to respond together so that we can assure our region of perpetual food security in the years to come.”
According to the SADC Secretariat, the ministerial meeting will be preceded by senior officials’ sessions held from May 27 to 28, which will set the technical foundation for policy deliberations.
Key agenda items include updates on regional food and nutrition security, rainfall performance across Member States, and production outlooks for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 agricultural seasons.
Ministers will also review progress under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), regional crop development programmes, and harmonised seed and fertiliser regulatory frameworks aimed at boosting productivity and trade.
Fisheries and aquaculture development will also feature prominently, including implementation of the Programme for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors (PROFISHBLUE), genetic improvement of tilapia, and updates to the regional aquaculture strategy.
The summit is also expected to examine coordinated regional responses to Foot and Mouth Disease, with Member States urged to strengthen surveillance, harmonise vaccination strategies and improve cross-border cooperation.
Outcomes from the meeting will be submitted to the SADC Council of Ministers and are expected to contribute to long-term regional frameworks, including the RISDP 2020–2030 and Vision 2050.
Delegates say the summit comes at a critical time as Southern Africa works to strengthen resilience in food systems while responding to climate variability and rising global demand pressures.
derick.khumalo