SADC to go ahead with regional grain reserve
29/8/2008 17:08
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced it will go
ahead with plans to set up a regional grain reserve, urging member states not to
impose export restrictions on maize as the region grapples with high food
prices, according to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) weekly
update.
According to the weekly update, in a significant move, the SADC has
revived plans to launch a strategic grain reserve to help bail out countries
experiencing food shortages, as part of a pre- emptive strategy to minimise the
impact of natural disasters on food security.
The plans to establish a
regional grain reserve are now at an advanced stage and have received support
because of the current global food crisis.
Head of SADC Food, Agriculture and
Natural Resources Margaret Nyirenda said the regional trade bloc has urged the
member states with surplus maize to sell their produce within the region.
In
the southern African model, a 500,000 ton facility, including a cash component
for countries that do not have any surplus to contribute, would be set up. About
75 percent of the reserve will comprise food in kind, while the remaining 25
percent will be in the form of cash. Officials hope to get the facility
operational by mid-2009. Cross-border bilateral initiatives have already been
set up.
Three SADC member countries, namely Mauritius, Madagascar and
Mozambique, have established a regional food company funded by the World Bank's
Global Food Crisis Response Facility. Under this initiative, Mauritius and
Madagascar, which have limited agricultural land, plan to grow food in
Mozambique.
Zambian Agriculture and Co-operatives Minister Ben Kapita hopes
experts could take into consideration critical issues raised by individual
countries before considering the establishment of a regional grain
reserve.
Xinhua
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