COMESA calls for resilience building to climate change in the livestock sector
Posted by JUDITH DORA AKOLO on 18 March 2022 3:20 PM CAT
African Union member states have been urged to implement the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods and ensure resilience of the agriculture secto against climatic shocks.
The Director of Industry and Agriculture at the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Providence Mavubi called on member states to work towards transforming, livestock sub-sector from subsistence extensive systems which are prone to setbacks from climate change.
Speaking at the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the African Union – InterAfrica Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Ms Mavubi said agriculture transformation will ensure resilience to climate change and provide ways of adaptation to the changing weather patterns.
“The livestock sector is the most affected by climate change arising from extreme weather events that have seen recurrent droughts which adversely affect the livestock sector,” said Mavubi and added, “we are seeing Member States enhancing livestock and fisheries value chains and expanding agro-processing and opening up their economies to domestic and international investments and we are witnessing increased inter and intra-regional trade in animal and animal products between Member States.”
She noted that there is sufficient land, human power and conducive agroecology on the continent hence the need to open up and attract investment to the sector while using the opportunities on the continent “to trade more among ourselves using the provisions of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opportunities.”
The Comesa director called for strengthening of capacities in the development and harmonization of sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures and compliance to international standards especially in the face of increasing challenges of climate change and its effect on the incidence of emerging and re-emerging animal diseases that are trans-boundary in nature.
Noting that AU-IBAR now has a broadened mandate covering animal production and health, Mavubi said that AU-IBAR in partnership with RECs, has implemented different projects including the Reinforcing Veterinary Governance (VET-GOV), strengthening institutional capacity to enhance governance of the Fisheries Sector in Africa (FishGov 1 & 2), Strengthening the Secretariat for the Conference of African Ministers in charge of fisheries and aquaculture within the framework of the Regional Partnership for African Fisheries Policy Reform (RAFIP), Strengthening the capacity of African countries towards the conservation and sustainable utilization of African Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR), Strengthening Pan-African platforms for enhancing entrepreneurship and coordination in the animal resources sector by enhancing women and youth empowerment in agribusiness and for job creation.
She said implementing the Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa (Live2Africa) project will enhance the contribution of animal resources to sustainable socioeconomic development and equitable growth.
