SADC talks focus on agriculture, food security and youth unemployment

At its recent Plenary Assembly Session, the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum addressed how agriculture could resolve socio-economic crises. Jyothi Laldas reports on the concerns raised

-  Jyothi Laldas

There was a sharp focus on modernising agriculture in the face of socioeconomic crises at the SADC Parliamentary Forum’s 53rd Plenary Assembly Session, which took place in Arusha, Tanzania, from 3 to 8 July.

Led by the speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the multiparty parliamentary delegation included Seiso Mohai, Nkhensani Bilankulu, and Desmond Moela of the ANC; Darren Bergman of the DA; and Ntombovuyo Mente of the EFF.

The 53rd Parliamentary Forum, themed ‘Modernising agriculture to address food insecurity and youth unemployment in the SADC region: role of the parliaments’, discussed the importance of growing and modernising the agriculture sector, considered the backbone of most economies on the African continent, along with ways to create income and reduce poverty to address food insecurity.

Speaking at the opening symposium of the five-day assembly, Bilankulu proposed including an update on the progress made in the implementation of the Malabo Declaration, the establishment of youth-focused agriculture platforms and mainstreaming of youth parliaments as an engagement strategy.