CLOSING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SADC PF STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRADE, INDUSTRY, FINANCE AND INVESTMENT,

HON. ANELE NDEBELE, MP AT THE JOINT MEETING OF THE FANR/TIFI STANDING COMMITTEES HELD UNDER THE THEME ‘EXPANDING INVESTMENT IN AGROECOLOGY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION’

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

SUNDAY, 1^ST MAY, 2022

Hon Members, distinguished participants,

Good afternoon

I am honoured to address you this afternoon as we come to the close of our session on ‘Expanding Investment in Agroecology in Southern Africa for Sustainable Development and Climate Adaptation.  Let me take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to you, Honourable Members, for sparing time to attend this meeting. I also thank you for applying yourselves fully and actively engaging with the resource persons on the important subject of investment in agriculture. This shows your desire and commitment to acquiring the requisite knowledge and skills to enable you contribute positively towards national and regional food security as well as climate adaptation.

To the Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, I commend you for convening this meeting.

Let me also offer special appreciation to our resource persons who were willing to share with us their vast knowledge and experience on the subject under consideration.

Honourable Members,

Having concluded all items on our agenda, I am happy to note that we have now gained a deeper understanding of what agroecology is and some of its advantages as compared to the conventional high input and industrialised agricultural system. I am also pleased that the presenters have not only highlighted the many regional and continental commitments towards the agriculture sector, but also the fact that funding to this sector should be adequate and sustainable. This was especially important for us as it will enable us, going forward, to work in our respective jurisdictions and in the context of our legislative mandate towards addressing the food security concerns in the region and our respective countries.

In view of the above, it is gratifying that this session has also reminded us of the important role that we should play to not only ensure increased budgetary allocation towards agroecology, but also promote private sector investment.

Further, I am particularly happy that during this meeting, we had an opportunity to explore how the draft SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management can be used to promote agroecology in our region. It now remains for each one of us to champion the case as advocates within our domestic jurisdictions for the domestication of the SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management once adopted by the Plenary Assembly.  In this regard, I must pay tribute to the Forum for the initiative of developing the Model Law.  Let us work hard so that the SADC Member States can develop domestic legislation that will enable us promote agroecology, especially through the enhancement of the relevant budgetary allocations.

Having said the above, it is now my singular honour to declare the

joint meeting of the SADC Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment officially closed.

I thank you