Fifteen African Nations Agriculture Ministers are in Kenya: Under the Auspices of Kenya Agriculture Ministry to Dialogue on Food Challenges

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone– In revamping agricultural research in Eastern and Central African countries, the East Africa nation of Kenya is hosting a regional conference C.S Mithika Linturi being the patron of the Council of Ministers in the 15 member nations remarked, they are advocating to formulate centres of excellence for selected and priority commodities in Africa.

This is by way of promoting biofortified crops for enhanced food and nutrition security in Eastern and Central Africa.

The CS remarked during a media briefing on the third council meeting of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA).

Linturi stated, the fifteen members states invited; will dialogue on how to enhance policy and advocacy actions to ameliorate and curb the aflatoxin challenge in the region and emerging pests and diseases.

In furtherance, the meeting will steer towards bolstering strategic partnerships with private sector networks to support trade and
commercialization of agriculturalist technologies and innovations.

Linturi noted, these windfalls sharply support to the prospect of the Sustainable Development Goals, geared towards food and nutrition security for Africa.

“Kenya is privileged to host this high-level event as it enhances the visibility of our country and facilitates exchange of knowledge among senior political, policy and research leaders, especially on priorities that bind us together as a continent,” he note.

Dr Enock Warinda, executive director of ASARECA, said the intergovernmental organisation brings together 15 countries in Eastern and Central Africa.

He said food scarcity, climate change, pests and diseases are major problems in Africa that call for the a concerted effort from ministers of agriculture.

“We want to bring these ministers together and discuss and come up with practical solutions. And beyond that, you can’t do much without financial support hence the meeting will also bring together donors and development partners who are allied to agriculture,” he said.

Warinda added that the meeting also seeks to come up with practical, top end priority regional programmes that can support the youth, alleviate poverty and bring in support for the smallholder farmers.

“We want to make sure that food and nutrition insecurity no longer become an insecurity but a security, where people of all walks of life can have free access to food,” he said.

For New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent