By: Saidou S. Baldeh
The Network of Public Structure for the Management of National Food Security Stocks in the Sahel and West Africa (RESOGEST) in partnership with CILSS and Gambia Government through the Ministry of Agriculture (MOU) three day regional board meeting underway in Ocean Bay Hotel.
The three day meeting held from August 21-23 brought together participants from various member states in the sub region. It aims to update members on progress registered within the framework of the roadmap 2018-2019 and the action plan 2019 as well as to validate the document of the manual procedure handbook.
Addressing the participants on behalf of the minister of agriculture, Mr. Omar Jammeh deputy permanent secretary for the ministry of agriculture said the ECOWAS region has experienced strong growth in agricultural production over the last 20 years, particularly compared to the rest of the continent.
“The growth of the main products generally followed the increase in demand brought about by demographic growth. Despite these gains, food insecurity remains a major challenge. FAO statistics indicate that more than 34 million people are undernourished in the sub-region,” he said.
According to him, the major structural factor of food insecurity remains the very high level of poverty in the region. In spite the good level of growth in food availability in the region, access to a diversified and sufficient food supply remains difficult for many poor households.
“For more than a decade, the region has experienced a series of crises. The most striking of which are the food and nutrition crisis in Niger in 2004/2005, the hike in international prices in 2007/2008 particularly affecting the urban dwellers of the region, the pastoral crisis in 2009/2010 and the food crisis affecting the entire Sahel belt in 2011/2012.”
“Faced with this situation, RESOGEST within the framework of the implementation of its action plan 2018-2019 with CILSS supports RESOGEST in the process of development of the handbook of administrative and financial procedures,” he said.
In 2017, the MOA and ECOWAS signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This MOU and Cooperation set the framework for collaboration between RAAF/ECOWAS and the Gambia government through the MOA to implement the RESOGES’ activités to ensure constant, structured flow of information sharing on food security situation, he said.
He noted that recently, ECOWAS technical arm RAAF was supporting the Gambia to develop its strategy band manual procedure of it stock governance instruments, saying he believe it’s very valuable to have this meeting as a medium in establishing understanding, share ideas, and experience in validating the document.
DPS Jammeh expressed gratitude to RESOGEST for having the meeting in the Gambia as well as their unflinching support and close cooperation to the West African tiny nation.
