Combating Food Insecurity : African Legislators Pledge Increased Investments

Sixteen resolutions have been taken by legislators who met in Yaounde for the 18th Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officer of the Africa Region. The legislators who began meeting on July 18, 2023 under the theme “African Parliaments and Agenda 2063,” came up with the recommendations to help member countries attain local economic development at an even pace. The 16-point resolutions were read on July 20, 2022 by the Chairperson of the Organising Committee, Hon. Mary Muyali Meboka, who doubles as Deputy Speaker of Cameroon’s National Assembly. They concern four main areas including combating food security, mitigating the effects of climate change, ensuring the free movement of goods and persons across the continent and securing public trust. 
As concerns food security, a total of four resolutions were taken. Amongst them, supporting increased investments in research and development, agricultural infrastructure, provision of subsidised inputs to farmers, agro-processing, marketing, conservation and storage, including the establishment of an African Investment Bank to support agricultural investment. “We accordingly resolved to use legislation to improve investment in agriculture, reform the land tenure system and land-use management, and provide tax and other financial incentives to encourage private investments in the agricultural value-chain,” reads one of the resolutions. The final document further encourages legislators to adopt appropriate measures in resolving armed conflicts, including conflicts among farmers and herders. 
Seven resolutions were taken to mitigate the effects of climate change on the continent. Besides ensuring that sufficient budgetary resources are allocated to support programmes and initiatives towards combating climate change, the legislators also resolved to ratify and domesticate all relevant international agreements, conventions and protocols on climate change, while undertaking tree ...