(HERALD) ‘Invest in research to improve agric production’
‘Invest in research to improve agric production’Herald Reporter
Sadc needs to improve agricultural production through investment in research and technology, irrigation and rural infrastructure, Industry and International Trade Minister Cde Obert Mpofu has said.
Speaking at a regional workshop on trade and development, agro-biodiversity and food security in Norton this week, he said while agricultural growth and improving production was the focus of the region, the level to which countries added value to agricultural production was still very low.
"Our region should, through trade, exploit regional value chains and integrate through value addition," said the minister.
Through value addition, he said, the region would not only increase the income derived from selling value-added products, but also create employment for youths and women.
The workshop was organised by the Community Technology Development Trust as part of the Southern Africa Biodiversity and Biosafety Policy Initiative to facilitate stakeholder consultation and draw up special recommendations for trade agreements for the region.
The workshop, which drew more than 50 participants from Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe, analysed the implications of regional and international trade agreements.
These included Economic Partnership Agreements and World Trade Organisation negotiations.
"As a region, we need to safeguard our economic and social interests in all negotiations and ensure that developed countries do not sideline our concerns by making onerous market access demands at the expense of our economies and people.
"As developing countries, we reiterate the development issues remain a priority for our continent and a key component for the successful achievement of the real objectives of the Economic Partnerships Agreement negotiations," Cde Mpofu said.
CTDT executive director Mr Andrew Mushi said the workshop provided a platform for open discussion among all stakeholders to contribute towards the shaping-up of global instruments and defining national and regional positions on trade and development instruments.
CTDT is a non-governmental organisation that runs a number of programmes on agriculture, food security, trade and development, environment and bio-diversity.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, SADC, WORKSHOPS, ZIMBABWE
posted by MrK @ 3:34 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home