East African Legislative Assembly
PRESS RELEASE
PUSH TO ALLOCATE MORE RESOURCES TO AGRICULTURE - EALA TELLS PARTNER STATES’ GOVTS’
East African Legislative Assembly, Zanzibar, Tanzania: 12 October, 2016:
The
Assembly today has added its voice to the push for more budgetary
allocation in the agricultural sector in Partner States and to ensure
legal and regulatory frameworks are responsive
to the needs of the smallholder farmers, youth, women and other
sectors.
The
increase in budgetary allocations is in line with the Malabo
Declaration and the Assembly says the target which is pegged at least
10%, needs to be met annually
or progressively.
The
legislators are similarly urging the EAC Secretariat to
institutionalise a Regional Agriculture Advisory Council to advise on
the harmonization
of the regional agriculture policy frameworks and programmes. Such a
Council, EALA says, could comprise of EAC/EALA Secretariat and
representatives from Partner States, academia, regional Farmer
Organisations and Civil Society as well as consumers.
At
the same time, Partner States need to increase the quality of
investments by addressing national priorities connected with farmers
while addressing existing
challenges. Consequently, increase in the absorption rate in the
agriculture sector with a correlation between budget allocation,
agriculture returns and sectoral growth targets is absolutely necessary.
The recommendations are contained in a report arising from the Agriculture Budget Summit, 2016 held in Arusha on June 4th, 2016. The meeting, then,
opened by EALA Member, Hon Chris Opoka and themed “Increasing Public investment in Agriculture towards Ending Hunger and Poverty by 2025 in the EAC”
was organized to support the implementation of the Malabo Declaration of 2014-2025.
The
meeting among other things, sort to increase public awareness on the
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Results
framework and
importance of public financing of agriculture that supports
smallholders as catalyst for improved Private Sector investment. It
further wanted to enhance Civil Society Organizations, small scale
farmers’ involvement in agriculture financing policy processes
for improved public financing for agriculture at national and the East
African Community level.
The
Summit was attended by EALA Members from the Committee on Agriculture,
Tourism and Natural Resources, Committee Chairpersons from Partner
States’ National
Parliaments and CAADP Focal points from EAC Partner States. Other
Partners were from various organizations such as Trust Africa, ActionAid
International, Agriculture Non-State Actors Forum (ANSAF) and the
Coalition of Non-State Actors on CAADP amongst others.
The
meeting underscored the need for the EAC/EALA to expedite the
domestication of the Malabo Declaration 2014 -2025 by putting in place a
regional
legally binding Protocol or instruments to ensure regional realization
of its goals.
In
the past, EALA has contributed significantly to the discussions in the
region by ensuring formulation of key recommendations to strengthen the
agriculture
sector, in line with the Maputo Declaration on “Agriculture and Food
Security” and Malabo Declaration on “Accelerated Agricultural Growth.
The Assembly is also keen on taking up the issues of land rush which is a
hindrance to agriculture development in the
region and in Africa, in general as well as in overseeing development
of a regional legal framework on sustainable investment in agriculture.
The
report of the Meeting which was tabled in the House by Hon Patricia
Hajabakiga on behalf of the ATNR Committee further takes an incisive
analysis of the
Partner States’ situations.
During
debate, Hon Maryam Ussi called on the region to support the smalls
scale farmers by implementing the 10% budgetary increase as per the
Malabo Declaration.
Hon
Mike Sebalu remarked the relations between the Assembly and farmers’
organisations were very cordial and that the voice of the farmers
continued to be championed
by EALA. He remarked that it was time for agriculture to be prioritized
and that a value system that inculcates agriculture should be embraced
Hon
Shyrose Bhanji remarked that agriculture if well boosted by sufficient
budgets, would ensure the youth, women and other stakeholders are
catered for through
employment opportunities.
“At
the same time if land is well allocated, and utilised then it would go a
long way in eradicating poverty. To ensure this, finances in terms
of credit is to be output,” the legislator said.
The
legislator challenged the small holder farmers to take advantage of the
Customs Union Protocol that offers with it free taxes on local
products.
Hon
Mumbi Ngaru informed the House to step up efforts to reach out to
stakeholders in the agricultural sector especially during its (EALA)
Sensitisation activities
while Hon Nancy Abisai said it was necessary to curb corruption if
resources were to be made available.
The Report was also supported by Hon Taslima Twaha, Hon Chris Opoka, Hon Dr Odette Nyiramilimo, and Hon Adam Kimbisa.
Hakuna maoni:
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