Food security among discussions at SADC summit
SADC is calling for increased investment in irrigation to reduce its dependence on rainfall
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is urging greater investment in irrigation to reduce reliance on rainfall and enhance food production. At a high-level SADC Food Systems Transformation Policy Dialogue in Durban, SADC's head of agriculture, Duncan Samikwa, highlighted low agricultural productivity as a major threat to food security in the region.
Samikwa emphasized that SADC is urging member states to expand irrigation infrastructure, enabling farmers to sustain production during dry spells. This plea comes as the SADC prepares for the potential impact of a severe El Niño season, which could lead to hotter and drier conditions across the region. During the dialogue, ministers formulated several strategies to address the issue.
They proposed increasing domestic production within SADC and utilizing materials to boost soil fertility. Samikwa expressed confidence that a rise in the use of fertilizers and irrigation could transform the situation. Despite having abundant resources, SADC has historically invested relatively little in irrigation. The organization aims to bolster irrigation capabilities in the coming years, aiming to minimize dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
