Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare in VICTORIA FALLS
SADC countries must collectively shift towards local production and consumption systems, as climate shocks, livestock diseases and global supply chain disruptions continue to undermine food security across the region.
The regional body said about 58 million people in the region were food insecure, a situation that has heightened calls for urgent action to strengthen agricultural resilience and reduce dependence on external food systems.
Chairperson of the SADC Committee of Senior Officials responsible for Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mr Mooketsa Ramasodi, disclosed the figure at the official opening of the two-day Senior Officials Meeting in Victoria Falls, ahead of a ministerial summit scheduled for Friday.
The meeting is being held under the broader SADC strategic focus of “accelerating transformation of food systems, strengthening resilience, and harnessing the blue economy.”
“We are currently looking at a situation where approximately 58 million people in the SADC region are food insecure. This requires us to act collectively and decisively to strengthen our food systems,” Mr Ramasodi said.
The meeting is expected to consolidate technical recommendations that will be presented to SADC Ministers for Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture, with a focus on strengthening regional food systems and advancing the blue economy.
Delivering introductory remarks on behalf of the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Director of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Mr Fahari Marwa said the region is facing multiple interconnected challenges that are undermining food production and stability.
He said the meeting comes at a critical juncture for Member States as they grapple with climate shocks, disease outbreaks and global market disruptions.
“This meeting has been convened at a critical juncture as our Member States face multiple interconnected challenges that threaten not only food security but also regional stability and national security,” Mr Marwa said.
He said, while some parts of the region have recorded favourable harvests, others continue to suffer from droughts and floods, widening disparities in food availability.
Mr Marwa warned that climate-related disasters, particularly cyclones, continue to devastate agricultural production, infrastructure and livelihoods across the region.
“Cyclones continue to take a heavy toll, destroying crops and livestock, damaging critical infrastructure and depriving families of their livelihoods,” he said.
He cited recent cyclones, including Idai and Freddy, as examples of increasingly frequent extreme weather events affecting the region.
“These weather extremes have become very common and our meeting must look at ways of improving adaptability and recovery mechanisms,” he said.
Mr Marwa also noted the impact of global geopolitical tensions, saying disruptions in international supply chains are driving up the cost of fertilisers and fuel, further straining agricultural production systems.
Mr Ramasodi echoed concerns over the increasing pressure on food systems, warning that climate and disease shocks are converging to threaten regional stability.
He said Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks affecting key beef-producing Member States are already disrupting livestock trade and economic activity.
“The economic and trade effects are being felt across the SADC region,” he said.
Mr Ramasodi called for a coordinated, science-based regional response to transboundary animal diseases and other emerging threats affecting agriculture and trade.
Climate experts also briefed the meeting on the likelihood of a strong El Niño event, with a 77 percent probability of moderate to very strong conditions developing between October and December, raising fears of another drought-prone season across parts of the region.
In his remarks, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said regional unity was critical in addressing shared agricultural challenges.
“It reminds us that no single Member State can address the challenges of food insecurity, agricultural productivity and fisheries management alone,” Prof Jiri said.
He said SADC’s strength lies in unity of purpose and coordinated action as the region seeks to build resilient and sustainable food systems.
The meeting will feed into ministerial deliberations to be held tomorrow and is aimed at strengthening regional food security and advancing agricultural transformation across Southern Africa.
Peter Tanyanyiwa