Principal Secretary Sydney Simelane has emphasized the need for Africa to develop and expand modern seed varieties that can withstand changing climate conditions while producing enough food for growing populations. Speaking at the African Union Seed Summit at the Ezulwini Palazzo, Simelane said that seed sovereignty remains a priority over food sovereignty. He stressed that modern seed varieties should be able to cater for climate variations and inevitable population growth.
Simelane noted that Africa is still struggling to develop and distribute its own indigenous and climate-resilient seed varieties, leaving farmers vulnerable to unpredictable weather. He said that the continent is facing a challenge of propagating its own seed varieties that will be resilient and of early maturity to address climate change. This has resulted in the continent relying heavily on food imports, which can have negative impacts on local economies.
The Principal Secretary warned that relying on food imports to address shortages could hurt local economies in the long term. While imports may provide immediate relief when there is not enough food, Simelane said they could weaken local farming skills and production while taking jobs away from local communities. He emphasized that imports seem to be an alternative but are actually killing local agricultural skills, local food production, and literally exporting jobs.
Simelane also highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring that food is available, accessible, and affordable to emaSwati. The Ministry of Agriculture is charged with the responsibility to ensure every Liswati has sufficient food to eat. He said that the government is working to ensure that the country is food-secure, and that the AU Seed Summit is a step in the right direction towards achieving this goal.
The AU Seed Summit brought together agricultural experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss investment in seed development, climate adaptation, and sustainable food production. The summit aimed to address the challenges facing Africa's agricultural sector, including climate change, and to find solutions to improve food security on the continent.
Simelane's remarks were echoed by the fact that Eswatini, like many other African countries, is vulnerable to climate change. The country's agriculture sector is a significant contributor to its economy, and any disruptions to food production can have severe impacts on the country's food security. The development of climate-resilient seed varieties is crucial to mitigating these impacts.
The African Union Seed Summit is a significant step towards addressing the challenges facing Africa's agricultural sector. The summit provided a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in seed development, climate adaptation, and sustainable food production. It is hoped that the summit's outcomes will contribute to improving food security on the continent and reducing reliance on food imports.
Key points
- Africa needs to develop and expand modern seed varieties that can withstand changing climate conditions while producing enough food for growing populations.
- Relying on food imports can hurt local economies in the long term by weakening local farming skills and production.
- The government of Eswatini is committed to ensuring that food is available, accessible, and affordable to its citizens.
