Caholo calls for prudent use of natural resources
Caholo calls for prudent use of natural resourcesBy Florence Bupe
Sunday July 01, 2007 [04:00]
THERE is need for intensification and use of production enhancing and research-proven technologies to meet the demands of the increasing population and resultant rise in demand for goods and services, SADC deputy executive secretary Dr Joao Caholo has said.
Speaking at the meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers responsible for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) on Friday, Dr Caholo advised that the region should adopt strategies that would protect agriculture support resources against depletion.
“Our region needs to develop strategies for improving access to essential inputs such as land, fertilisers and improved seeds as well as access to markets for our products,” Dr Caholo said.
“It is also important to address the declining availability of livestock and livestock products that have contributed to food insecurity in our region.”
Dr Caholo noted that effective exploitation of natural resources could contribute significantly to poverty reduction in the region.
“Our region is endowed with abundant land-based resources, the exploitation of which could have positive impacts on poverty reduction. It is estimated that more than 50 per cent of the gross domestic product in the region is derived from primary production, which includes fisheries, forestry, wildlife, mining and agriculture with little or no value addition,” he said.
However, Dr Caholo disclosed that the SADC secretariat had made significant positive strides in implementing various projects under the Dar-es-Salaam declaration on agriculture and food security.
“I am happy to announce that the secretariat has made significant progress in developing irrigation programmes for the region worth about US$200 million. The secretariat has also signed a 7.5 million pound grant to fund a project on food safety and another one on ‘Strengthening institutions for the management of trans-boundary animal diseases in the SADC region’, worth US$21.6 million and is financed by the African Development Bank,” he explained.
Dr Caholo said policy and technical interventions were necessary for the mitigation of food insecurity in the region.
“I would like to point out that policy and technical interventions are required to prevent the region’s food insecurity situation from worsening,” Dr Caholo said.
“As a region, we have protocols that, if adequately implemented, can contribute significantly towards management and utilisation of our resources.”
And the Minister of Agriculture for Lesotho, Ramohotsi Lehata, has called on SADC member states to develop strong networking strategies as a vehicle to sustainable food security.
“I have observed a lot of reluctance among SADC member states to join hands and fight food insecurity as a team. Let us disseminate the message of the importance of collaboration in the fight against poverty,” said Lehata.
Labels: GREEN REVOLUTION, MINING, MINING CONTRACTS
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