Agriculture, food security and climate
change – what is the role of regional
organizations?
By
Chikakula Miti
COMESA Secretariat
Introduction
– Attainment of Food security is still a challenge
e.g according to fews net DRC with 6.4 million
persons needing food in 2013/2014, Sudan (3.3),
Ethiopia (2.7) and Zimbabwe (2.2). Zambia and
Swaziland have figures well below a million.
– CC magnifies, intensifies and speeds up already
serious threats to ecosystems and the people
– Droughts and floods are becoming prevalent
– Warming up of the sea - warming temperatures
damage coral reefs and drive fish away from the
tropics
What is the role of the RECs
• RECs have been created to foster economic integration
• COMESA’s Vision is to “be a fully integrated, internationally
competitive regional economic community with high standards of
living for its entire people ready to merge into an African Economic
Community”.
• EAC’s vision is to be a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable and
politically united East Africa.
• SADC’s vision is to be a common future, a future within a regional
community that will ensure economic well-being, improvement of the
standards of living and quality of life, freedom, social justice, peace
and security for the people of Southern Africa.
• For COMESA Agric Accounts for more than 32 % of GDP), 80 % of
labour force, provide 50% of raw material for domestic industry
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Climate Proofing of the NAIP/CAADP
• To date 16 out of 19 COMESA countries are
actively engaged in CAADP.
• Fourteen (14) of these member states have
signed their National CAADP Compacts,
highlighting key priority areas for investment.
CAADP defines agriculture as: forestry , fisheries,
livestock and crop.
• We have made progress in Climate proofing of in
Lesotho, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Malawi and Kenya - FAO/TCI
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Climate Proofing of the NAIP cont’
• We have made progress in Climate proofing of in
Lesotho, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Malawi and Kenya - FAO/TCI
– screening of the CAADP Investment - An initial scoping
phase to review CAADP investment plans to identify
programmes adaptation and mitigation benefits; and
– an in-depth analysis phase, including estimation of
adaptation and mitigation potentials and identification of
possible eligibility criteria for climate-smart programmes
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•
Platforms for supporting CA/CSA
Upscaling
Supporting the Conservation Agriculture Regional
Working Group ( CARWG) – 15 countries
• Established in September 2014 - Eastern Africa
Working Group on CSA with main focus on CA
• COMESA, EAC, organised the CSA meeting - agreed
to move the agenda forward
• Supporting detailed CA census in the southern Africa
region – Tools have been developed
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Supporting 14 countries on CATSF
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Supporting In country study tours /
demonstrations .
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CSA Practical interventions
Supporting CA/CSA up
scaling in Uganda ,
Lesotho, Zimbabwe,
Swaziland, Seychelles ,
Zambia, and Madagascar,
Supporting the use of ICT
in CSA in Uganda and
Zambia
CSA Practical interventions
Extension workers trained
to be CA practiciing
farmers in Uganda and
Zimbabwe.
Lead farmer models . The
Extension officer should be
a lead farmer
CSA Practical interventions
Piloting of CA has been the
main focus
Organised some study tours
for policy makers and
farmers
Provide some green house
technologies
CSA ICT Innovation
Piloting of SMS platforms in
Uganda and Zambia
THANK YOU
climatechange@comesa.int
www.comesa.int
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