Victoria falls: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for urgent and coordinated regional action to strengthen food security, climate resilience, and agricultural systems, given the growing threats posed by global supply chain disruptions, climate change, and livestock diseases. SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Ang¨le Makombo N'Tumba, delivered this message at the joint meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for agriculture, food security, fisheries, and aquaculture held in Victoria Falls.

According to Namibia Press Agency, N'Tumba emphasized that worsening climate shocks and geopolitical conflicts are placing millions of people at risk of hunger and economic hardship. She highlighted that disruptions in global supply chains and extreme weather patterns threaten food and energy security across the region. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has particularly disrupted the movement of key agricultural inputs and petroleum products through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to rising food and fuel prices and increasing pressure on regional economies.

N'Tumba pointed out that while some SADC member states have seen bumper harvests, others face challenges such as crop losses, damaged infrastructure, and livestock deaths due to excessive rainfall and climate-related disasters. She warned of a 77 percent likelihood of a moderate-to-very-strong El Ni±o event developing towards the end of 2026, potentially causing below-average rainfall and severe harvest failures across central and southern parts of the region. N'Tumba urged for immediate preparation for such possibilities.

Highlighting agriculture's role as the backbone of the SADC region, sustaining over 70 percent of the population, N'Tumba called for strengthened regional cooperation to tackle livestock diseases, particularly Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). She also urged member states to invest more in fisheries and aquaculture to address food and nutrition security challenges, emphasizing the importance of aquaculture, cold chain systems, value addition, and climate-resilient production systems.

In agreement, South African Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, chairperson of the Joint Committee, noted that despite improvements in cereal production, the region still faces severe food insecurity challenges, with an estimated 58 million people across SADC member states facing acute food insecurity. Steenhuisen urged SADC countries to harmonize fertilizer regulations and expedite the proposed Memorandum of Understanding on the Harmonisation of Fertiliser Regulatory Frameworks to reduce production costs and improve regional trade.

Zimbabwean Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Anxious Masuka, echoed similar concerns, stressing the need for SADC member states to bolster climate resilience and develop robust food security systems in anticipation of El Ni±o-induced drought conditions. Masuka highlighted the projected drier conditions for Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries in the coming decades, making it critical for governments to climate-proof agriculture. He also underscored the impact of geopolitical conflicts on agriculture, emphasizing the necessity for resilient agriculture and food systems in the face of climate, pandemic, conflict, and macro-economic shocks.