The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced it will go ahead with plans to setup 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 minimize 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.
Source:Xinhua
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