Speaker Moses wetangula
By: Eric Wanjala
Parliamentarians from 11 countries in the larger Eastern Africa region have converged in Nairobi for the 5th Parliamentary Dialogue on matters Food Security and Nutrition.
Launching the Dialogue Kenya National Assembly Speaker H.E Hon Moses Wetangula he challenged the legislators drawn from the 11 Member states to utilize the land resources from every country and use of Mode machinery in cultivation and titling of the land as one of the solutions to food security across the region and the entire Continent.
“The Continent at the moment is 70to 20yrs old since it gained independence but UpTo date challenges of food security still faces us,also I challenge the FAO people to educate the masses that maize is not the only food crop that the Nation relays on.” Says Speaker Wetangula.
The meeting comes in at a time when the region is currently facing effects of drought ,water shortage and the long expected Elnino rains which according to scientist will likely cause great effects.
Issuing data while Speaking during the launch of the meeting HE Dr David Phiri who the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO representative in the region stated that around 135 people living in Africa are undernourished also close to 22 million Children are malnourished something that stakeholders call for emmense action.
” From the first meeting which we held in Arusha 2019 the Alliance has made tremendous achievement of food sustainable goals a matter that has greatly enhanced food security in the region” Lamented Dr Phiri.
In order to alleviate this gloomy reality, Members of Parliaments from ten Eastern African nations (Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda), the East Africa Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) launched EAPA FSN in 2019.
The goal of this alliance is to position food security and nutrition at the center of the political and legislative agenda.
“This year, the assembly has convened in Nairobi For 3 day retreat in Kenya to explore legal issues and key parliamentary actions to foster linkages between climate actions and food systems transformation in Eastern Africa,” EAPA FSN Chair Mr Adan Hassan stated.
EAPA FSN held its fourth General Assembly in December in Kigali where members lamented the fact that the Eastern Africa sub-region was the global hotspot for high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition.
They urged national governments to intensify measures to alter this gloomy image.
Donatille Mukabalisa, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Rwanda, underscored that the food security and nutrition situation of the region was concerning.
He said a lot could be done to improve the situation by rethinking the strategies and approaches countries employ towards agricultural development.
The rains are here, lets reimagine food production for growth
Yellow maize utilisation is low because it is regarded as a poor man’s crop
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