Comesa in deal to boost food output

Rural households in the Comesa region are to benefit from a Sh2 billion agreement to improve their food security.

Mr Sindiso Ngwenya, the secretary general of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, said the 20 million euro pact with the European Union for a project known as COMRAP will increase food stocks and improve livelihoods in the region through enhancing access to finance, fertiliser, and seed.

Will alleviate

“Over the next two years, the project will improve smallholders’ access to agro-inputs and the regional legal frameworks to increase agricultural productivity,” he said in a statement.

Mr Ngwenya said the project will alleviate constraints faced by smallholder farmers in accessing seed, fertiliser, and financing in order to increase staple crop production.

The project stems from decisions taken by the Comesa council of ministers in 2008 to facilitate regional seed trade and provide farmers with more crop and variety at lower prices.

It will be implemented by the newly created Agricultural Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa, a Comesa initiative to support and coordinate agricultural markets and food security activities.

Rapid response

Mr Ngwenya said COMRAP is funded through the food facility and enables developing countries and regions facing financial constraints to respond rapidly to problems caused by soaring food prices.

“Comesa is responsible for harmonising policies, stabilising of agricultural commodity prices, coordination in bulk purchases of inputs, and ensuring adequate supply and availability of food commodities,” he said.

The head of the EU delegation in Zambia, Dr Derek Fee, who is also accredited to the bloc, said the developing world has been hit by soaring food prices, with devastating effects on household food security.