BOTSWANA – Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International’s (CABI) Director General Development, Dr Dennis Rangi has, called for strong, inclusive and empowering partnerships in tackling the worlds food crisis.
Speaking during CABI’s African Regional Consultation in Botswana, Dr Rangi said that the approach presents an opportunity towards enhancing food security and alleviating malnutrition.
According to Dr Rangi, countries need to forge greater partnerships to ensure the food security of more than 1.2 billion in Africa and 7.7 billion globally, with about 815 million people currently suffering chronic undernourishment.
The meeting was attended by government representatives from CABI Member Countries, and delegates from partner organisations, including the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
Dr Rangi highlighted that an ongoing commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)17: Partnerships for the Goals is vital in the fight against food security, especially in the agricultural sector.
“With the challenge of achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 upon us all, CABI’s belief and focus on the need for greater partnership working, collaboration and the sharing of data and expertise has never been in sharper focus,” he said.
He stressed on collaborations between the governments, researchers, scientists, public and private sector companies, farmers and extension workers which all have important roles towards achieving the UN’s SDG of Zero Hunger.
“I know that through the power of partnerships we can make a difference in helping farmers produce more and lose less to pests and diseases, reduce food waste and adopt more healthy and sustainable diets to feed not only Africa but the world,” he added.
CABI and its partners have embarked on supporting member states to tackle global food security amid the challenge to produce 50% more food, feed and biofuel worldwide to meet a growing global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050.
Minister of Agriculture Development and Food Security, Botswana, Hon Patrick Pule Ralotsia, reiterated that partnerships remains a key solution towards enhancing food production.
“Further partnerships between policy makers, researchers and technical experts will be required to ensure systems are in place to prevent the risks of pests spreading between countries,” he said.
CABI is an international not-for-profit organization that seeks to improve livelihoods by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.
The organisation is majorly concerned with improving global food security and safeguarding the environment.
Currently CABI has 49 member states engaging in practices of protecting biodiversity from invasive species, combating threats presented by pests and diseases, and improving access to agricultural and environmental scientific knowledge.
