African govts urged to invest in Agroecology
KAMPALA – Biovision Africa Trust [BvAT], the African Union Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative, and Agroecology Partners have urged African countries to invest in organic agriculture, saying use of synthetic fertilisers harms the environment and human health.
The call was made during the recently concluded 1st Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya where participants also called for action from the global community transition to Agroecology.
The conference was attended by more than 500 participants from 20 countries largely from Eastern Africa, West Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, the U.S.A, and other parts of the world. The conference was held under the theme, “Transforming Food Systems for Responsible Production, Consumption, and Social wellbeing”.
The call to the global community
The conference called upon the United Nations and all its agencies to sustain and enhance the campaign for continued adoption and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals for healthy and sustainable food systems.
The conference also called up the global community to mobilise, target resources and coordinate investments that promote agroecological principles and practices.
At the continental level
The conference called upon all African governments through the African Union to invest in the Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative and align it to respective commitments and declarations.
Some of the declarations include; the Agenda 2063, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in addition to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [UNFCCC], the Convention on Biological Diversity [CBD] and to implement the AU Heads of States and Governments’ Decision on Ecological Organic Agriculture of 2011.
The conference also called for a review National Agricultural Investment Plans [AIPs] and Regional Agricultural Investment Plans [RAIPs] to integrate into Ecological Organic Agriculture.
At the country level
The conference urged governments to comply with their commitments and align respective policies to the declarations and agreements including the global, continental, and regional commitments, allocate budgets to Agroecology programmes and projects; including special programmes that target the youth and women.
The countries were also urged to facilitate the implementation of adoption of standards for agroecology products and by extension facilitate trade in agroecological products.
Dr. David Amudavi, the executive sdirector of BvAT noted: “I want to appreciate the tremendous efforts currently happening on agroecology at the global, continental, regional, county, and grassroots levels; from research and development, adoption of innovations and technologies, trading in agroecology products, development of policy and regulatory frameworks.”
Dr Sarah Osiya, who spoke at the conference, re-affirmed the African Union’s Commission’s commitment to the implementation of The AU Heads of States and Governments’ Decision on Ecological Organic Agriculture of 2011.
She said organic agriculture policies are being integrated into AU Member States’ development agendas.
Uganda’s State Minister for Agriculture, Fred Bwino Kyakulaga highlighted the challenge the world is facing in feeding a fast-growing global population, given the effects of climate change.
He stressed the need for a sector-wide approach that offers pragmatic solutions that will allow for a sustainable supply of food, feed, and fiber for the people.
https://thecooperator.news/scientists-root-for-organic-farming-as-a-buffer-against-food-insecurity/
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