18 May 2016

Combating regional food insecurity and poverty requires multifaceted actions. 

“Our being here is more than a testimony to this,” said, acting Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele when officially closing a one-day SADC ministers seminar on food security and poverty eradication in Gaborone on May 16.

Mr Makgalemele said he hoped that the SADC chairperson, Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, was able to motivate participants to translate problems into solutions that would impact positively in the lives of the region’s citizens.

He said the seminar offered SADC an opportunity to deliberate on persistent bottlenecks and challenges in the production of food. 

He said it was clear from the discussions that political commitment was important in domesticating and implementing policies and strategies.

“This calls for enhanced commitment to strengthening monitoring evaluation systems including the collection of data, analysis, dissemination of information and strengthening peer review mechanisms in policy and strategy implementation on food security and poverty,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ralotsia, expressed hope that their interactions would benefit SADC governments in ensuring that agriculture remained central to their overall development agenda.

The meeting was attended by SADC agriculture ministers, the secretariat, heads of diplomatic missions, international organisations, officials and partners in development, civil society organisations as well as experts and other stakeholders. ENDS