Mandera West MP Adan Yusuf Haji has retained the chairmanship of the regional parliamentary body on food security.
This follows his re-elected to the position during the meeting held in Uganda.
Haji was elected unopposed to serve for another term as the chairman of the East African Parliamentary Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition (EAPAFSN).
Haji, while thanking parliamentarians from member countries, called on the regional governments to support the organisation’s agenda of ensuring that the region is food secure.
“The organization has made positive strides and I call upon the regional governments to put more resources in their budgets to fund food production efforts,” he said.
The chairman noted that the Mabuto Declaration that compels governments to ensure 10 per cent of their budget is allocated towards food production can be achieved through commitment.
“I am happy to note that in my country, Kenya, budget for food production has moved from 1.3 per cent to 6.5 per cent,” he said.
He explained that other initiatives unveiled by the government, such as provision of subsidised fertiliser, have greatly contributed to improvement in food production.
The MP challenged the government to put more emphasis on planting of nutritious drought resistance crops especially in areas adversely affected by droughts to be able to cushion residents from starvation.
Haji also challenged the Agriculture Ministry to take advantage of the willingness by donors to support food production initiative.
“I am not happy that Ministry officials have not shown keen interest in partnering with willing donors to support food production programmes,” he claimed.
Haji said he will push for legislations that would support organizations that have interests in supplementing government’s programmes geared towards ensuring that Kenya is food secure.
The Eastern Africa Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (EAPA FSN) advocates for policies that reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in the subregion.
The alliance was established in April 2019 by members of parliament from 11 countries.
It comprises Members of parliament from Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
It’s mandate is to promote the right to food, encourage governments to enact and enforce laws on food security and nutrition, encourage governments to allocate adequate resources to agricultural development and food security programs, share experiences and best practices across borders goals, improve food security and nutrition in the subregion, ensure that everyone has access to adequate amounts of nutritious food among others.
