By Dickson Bandera
Harare- Stakeholders in the Biodiversity, Food and Agriculture sector from across the Sub Sahara Africa gathered in Harare on Tuesday for a three day regional workshop dubbed, “Taking action on biodiversity for food and agriculture in Africa.
The workshop, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Association (Apimondia), seeks to advance dialogue, innovation and cooperation for accelerated action towards protecting and restoring biodiversity for Food and Agriculture in Africa.
Countries in attendance include Namibia, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Guinea Mozambique, Madagascar and Zambia.
The workshop is set to ignite action towards protection and restoration of nature, with presentations from National Focal persons drawn from relevant government ministries and representatives from key organizations involved in agro-biodiversity from Eastern and Southern Africa,
Biodiversity is the foundation of food and agriculture, and its loss can have severe consequences for the sustainability and productivity of our food systems.
Sadly, the speed and velocity of the destruction of biodiversity across the world is worrisome, and this has created the consensus that concerted efforts to safeguard biodiversity is the best way to increase the resilience, sustainability and productivity of food and agricultural systems.
The workshop will, therefore, have discussions around promotion of biodiversity and ecosystem-based practices to support shifts towards sustainable agricultural paradigms.
Key on the agenda is also discussion on ways that the continent of Africa can adopt to sustain livelihoods and enhance food security and nutrition.
The conference will also create an opportunity to discuss on the role of bees in the whole biodiversity matrix. According to Apimondia, bees are the most effective pollinators in the world and their preservation would come with a number of benefits.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon Vangelis Haritatos opened the workshop today Tuesday January 30. In his remarks, Hon Haritatos stressed the importance of preservation of Biodiversity in Africa.
“Distinguished guests, and fellow advocates for sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation, today, we gather to address a critical issue that affects not only the present, but the future of food and agriculture in Africa which is biodiversity conservation.
“Biodiversity, the variety and variability of life on Earth, is essential for the functioning of ecosystems, the provision of ecosystem services, and ultimately, the production of food. In Africa, where agriculture is a cornerstone of many economies and communities, the preservation of biodiversity is of paramount importance,” he said.
Patrice Talla, Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative in Eswatini, Lesotho and Zimbabwe said, “The workshop is driven by the FAO Secretariat of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and it has a strong fit with the FAO Strategic Framework (2022-31) which seeks to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
“Over the next three days, we will explore the many ways in which we can protect biodiversity and ensure its continued presence in our food and agriculture systems. We will discuss the challenges we face, the progress we have made, and the steps we can take to build a more sustainable future for our planet.
“I hope that we will learn from each other, share our experiences and expertise, and develop new strategies and solutions to tackle the challenges ahead. Together, we can make a difference and build a more sustainable future for Africa and the world,” he added.
Speaking at the sidelines of the workshop, President for Apimondia Africa Region Mr David Mukomana underscored the importance of capacity building for communities.
“Pollinator populations are declining due to factors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. By protecting pollinators, we can help to ensure the continued production of food crops, and maintain the diversity of plant species, the protection of pollinators, such as bees is vital when we talk about biodivesity,” said Mr Mukomana.
Catherine Kiwuka from Plant Genetic Resources Centre, Uganda weighed in saying, “As Africa we need to adopt eco-friendly practices in our agriculture and use resources like organic fertilizer and manure, if we are to serve our ecosystems. If we do this, then in the long run we will have a healthy ecosystem.”
The conference in Zimbabwe is the third of the four, with the next one slated for the Philippines next month.