Majaliwa pushes for sustainable food systems

PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has called upon the African governments to align their policies and legal frameworks to enhancing sustainable food systems transformation.

The Premier made the plea on Friday in his speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Prime Minister Dr Doto Biteko when officially closing the Africa Food Systems Forum 2023 (AGRF 2023).

“In view of the summit deliberations, I call upon African governments to align their policies and legal frameworks to enhance sustainable food systems transformation,” the Prime Minister stated.

He said he was aware that the summit deliberated various issues for the interest to foster an agenda of transformation of food systems of Africa so as to ensure food security.

“The summit has been a successful platform for unlocking financial, policy and political commitments and innovation. The continent has been working towards achieving ambitious, inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems in Africa,” he stated.

The summit has exposed the path in action needed to accelerate transformation under the theme, ‘Recover, Regenerate, Act: Africa’s Solutions to Food Systems Transformation.’ Mr Majaliwa said the summit has called for bold leadership to accelerate the action towards translating food systems commitment to action, targeting the youth and women to optimally utilise the available resources.

He took the opportunity to thank the AGFR Secretariat, local organisers and all those who supported the summit to make it successful, despite involving diverse cultures by ensuring that the main objective was achieved.

“Allow me again to thank the sponsors, international organisations, farmers, media houses and other individuals,” he stressed. Speaking on his own behalf, Deputy Prime Minister Biteko said he believes the next forum will be equally vibrant for the members to participate. “I have attended this forum for the last few days, let what has been discussed here become practical, the President, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan is in support to boost agriculture,” he said.

On his part, Mr Amath Pathé Sene, the Managing Director for Africa’s Food Systems Forum (AGRF) said the forum has been possible because of the good leadership of President Samia, the Minister for Agriculture Mr Hussein Bashe and Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mr Abdallah Ulega, other ministers and the entire local organising committee.

Mr Sene said more than 5,000 delegates from 90 countries, five Heads of State, six former heads of governments and 80 international organisations represented, noting that that was the largest representation ever. He said a total of 56 local partners supported the forum that had reset a political agenda towards the COP28.

“We were focusing on inclusion, more specifically putting youths and women at the centre. 57 per cent of participants were women and this is to recognise the inclusiveness of youths and women, in all panelists we ensured that there was representation of youths and women,” he pointed out.

He said the forum discussed problems that African countries face, but people focused on solutions. “During this week there were a lot of African solutions to our problems to food systems transformation. This was a moment to reset political agenda,” he added.