The Ministerial Workshop on Food Security and Poverty Eradication was held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre in Gaborone, Republic of Botswana on 16th May 2016.

The Workshop was convened by His Excellency Lieutenant General Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana and Chairperson of SADC. The Workshop took place under the theme “Towards Poverty Free and Food Secure Region”.

The Workshop was attended by Ministers and Senior Officials representing SADC Members States, Members of Diplomatic Corps, Private Sector Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Farmer Organisations, United Nation’s Agencies and other International Development Partners.

The Workshop recommended that the SADC Chairperson should champion a binding monitoring and evaluation mechanism of continental and regional commitments. To this effect the Secretariat should be empowered and capacitated to monitor and report to Summit.

The Workshop underscored the need for substantive resources (financial and human) to be mobilized in order to effectively address poverty and food insecurity. The importance of collaborative efforts among public sector, private sector and social sector was also emphasized in order to leverage additional investment and financial resources. Considering the importance of agriculture in addressing poverty, the Workshop appealed to Member States increase budgetary allocations and investment for agriculture.

The Workshop identified access, ownership and use of land and agricultural inputs, particularly for women and youth, as critical to increasing production, productivity, competitiveness and reduce poverty.

The Workshop observed that in order to improve productivity and efficiency there is need for increased access to mechanization and therefore recommended the promotion of investment into the local manufacturing of farm machinery and implements and access and utilisation by farmers.

The Workshop recommended increased investment in critical infrastructure for agriculture such as market access roads, storage and cold chain facilities, energy (especially alternative energy sources), ICT, water harvesting and irrigation schemes.

The Workshop recommended strengthening of the design and implementation of social protection programmes targeted at the poor and vulnerable population in areas such as quality education, skills development, employment, health, safety nets and risk management. However, in implementing these, there is need to minimize dependency syndrome and market distortions.

The Workshop recommended the promotion of sustainable utilisation of natural resources as a viable land use option for Poverty Reduction and Food Security. Special focus should be placed on exploiting the use of indigenous species of flora and fauna for nutritional, medicinal and industrial purposes.

The Workshop recommended promotion of farming as a business. This will require identification of farmers who have the potential to operate farming as a business. Aggregation of farmers should be promoted to realise the economies of scale in production and marketing. Farmers should be supported to establish small and medium enterprises for agro-processing and value addition. Deliberate efforts should be made to create an enabling environment for the youth to participate in agri-business.

The Workshop recommended that production should be linked to markets to open opportunities for finance and investment. Promotion of value addition and beneficiation should be given priority in order to increase farmers’ incomes.

The Workshop recommended the strengthening of regional and national information systems including early warning and monitoring systems, and acceleration of the establishment of the regional disaster preparedness fund. In addition, Member States should scale-up risk insurance and management initiatives to safeguard vulnerable households against loss of assets and income during disasters.

The recurrent food crises in the region are largely a result of growing poverty, high vulnerability and low resilience to climate change. This is compounded by an increasingly uncertain and complex economic environment that has led to the erosion of household assets and reduced crop production.

The Workshop recommended the adoption of climate smart technologies such as drought tolerant varieties, conservation agriculture, water harvesting and efficient use of water and the use of renewable energy. Diversification of livelihood support systems should be promoted in order to enhance resilience.

Member States expressed their appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Botswana for hosting the Workshop and for the warm hospitality extended to all the delegates and Stakeholders.

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Statement by President Khama at the Special Seminar on Food Security and Poverty Eradication

It is indeed a pleasure for me to welcome you all to Botswana. I especially appreciate the fact that each of you have taken time out from other responsibilities to respond to my invitation to attend this Special Seminar. Your presence here today underscores our shared recognition of a compelling need to address the twin challenges of food insecurity and poverty in the light of the ongoing drought that is afflicting most of our region.

The latest climate data confirms that our region is indeed currently experiencing the worst drought conditions in over two decades. This circumstance will result in a decline in local food production, accompanied by a continued rise in food prices. It is thus expected that our region will be confronted with growing levels of food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition.

Given the severity of this looming crisis, this seminar has brought together policy makers and implementers of SADC decisions, as well as independent experts and representatives of civil society, to take stock of the situation and thus enable us to adopt both short and long term mitigation measures. It is my further hope that this gathering will explore practical and innovative ways of accelerating the attainment of our commitment to secure dignified livelihoods for all of our peoples through the universal provision of their basic needs.

Whilst we are going to be presented with a more elaborate overview of the challenges confronting the region during your deliberations, allow me to give a few highlights of challenges facing our region on the agricultural front.

Regarding food security, I am reliably informed that the 2015 cereal production decreased by approximately 21% compared to 2014. Crop production during the 2014/15 rainfall season was especially affected by prolonged dry spells in Botswana, Lesotho, and Namibia, which also extended to the maize belt of South Africa, southern Angola and southern Zimbabwe.

At the same time, Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique were affected by both floods and prolonged dry spells. Consequently, all Member States experienced significant decreases in cereal outputs.

It may be further noted that the effect of the recurring droughts in the region has not spared the livestock sub-sector. This fact is reflected in a loss of grazing, diminished water sources and increased incidences and prevalence of animal diseases, resulting in high mortalities in some countries in the region.

Consequently, the latest figures indicate slow growth in regional livestock production, while SADC as a whole remains a net importer of livestock products. Such dire reports, of course, have far reaching ramifications given that agriculture, particularly livestock production, remains an economic mainstay for most of us.

Turning now to the issue of poverty, I note with grave concern that according to SADC Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Synthesis Reports, 40% of all SADC citizens are currently living in abject poverty.

It is for this reason that Poverty Eradication has become the overarching objective for the SADC Regional integration agenda. As partners in this initiative our main aim is to enhance the standards of living and quality of life of all our people.

As you may recall, it was our recognition of the need to eradicate poverty that in 2008, in Mauritius, we decided to establish a Regional Poverty Observatory (RPO). This regional structure was created to oversee the implementation of the agreed poverty eradication strategies, while managing a region wide poverty information and data base.

It may be further noted that three specific objectives of the RPO form part of the basis for my call for this Seminar. These are to:

• Intensify dialogue on regional dimensions of poverty;

• Strengthen our collective efforts to address poverty through regional cooperation and integration; and

• Promote dialogue on the partnerships necessary to obtain our number one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs), which is to “end poverty in all of its forms everywhere”.

Combating regional food insecurity and poverty in all of its forms and complexity requires an array of multifaceted actions. Firstly, the political and policy environments need to be conducive, especially in the case of agriculture.

Secondly, food security and poverty cannot be addressed in isolation. It rather requires that the practices and policies of various sectors be harmonised to address food security and poverty as a common agenda.

We must further ensure that we at all times fully engage often marginalized groups, namely the youth and women, as well as the poor, in our efforts to improve agricultural production and distribution. It is, therefore, imperative that we enhance policies and avail the necessary resources that facilitate their access.

Let us remain cognisant of our ongoing regional efforts to address the above challenges. In terms of poverty, these include the development of Regional Poverty Eradication Frame Work, the establishment of the RPO with its steering committees; the development and adoption of the Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) as an alternative poverty measure for member states and stakeholders.

In terms of food security, let us be mindful of the Food and Nutrition Strategy, as approved by the SADC Summit in 2013; and the Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP), which was endorsed by the SADC Council of Ministers in August 2014. I here note that the RAP Investment Plan is yet to be finalised.

I am sure you will all agree with me that these commendable milestones must now be further translated into actions that will positively impact on the lives of our people.

While elements of the strategies I have highlighted are understood to have a long-term dimension, it is my earnest hope that this forum will propose short to medium term interventions that will cushion and assist our people in coping with the immediate impact of climate change.

Let me conclude my remarks by declaring this Special Seminar on Food Security and Poverty Eradication officially open. May your deliberations be fruitful.

Thank you for your attention.