Africa urged to collaborate to end poverty
THERE is need for stakeholders in Africa to work together to promote the agriculture sector if the continent has to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number two which seeks to eradicate poverty and hunger by 2030, Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo has said.
In an interview with the Daily Nation in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Katambo said agriculture was the backbone of every African country’s economy, hence the need for it to be given greater attention.
The minister was reacting to President Edgar Lungu’s call for African countries to focus more on Agriculture at the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa (SDGC/A) Subregional centre for Southern Africa.
President Lungu mentioned agriculture, health and education, as some of the key sectors which needed urgent attention as countries implement the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mr Katambo said the growth of the agriculture sector was the major driver of poverty reduction, employment generation and the surest commitment to ensuring food security in Africa.
He therefore urged various stakeholders on the continent to work with Governments across Africa in implementing the SDGs, especially those that sought to address agricultural issues.
“Agriculture is at the heart of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, with SDGs 1 and 2 being the leading goals that focus on eradication of poverty and hunger, so the need to give it all the necessary attention can never be overemphasised. Just like the Head of State said, much needs to be done, we need to join hands together and see how we can meet the target as a country and a continent at large,” Mr Katambo said.
He also assured that Zambia was on the right track towards eradicating poverty and hunger.
He said agriculture policies, empowerment programs and new technologies aimed at boosting the agriculture sector have been put in place.