FAO promotes aquaculture development in the region

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) sub-regional co-ordinator for Southern Africa, David Phiri, has said the aquaculture and fisheries sectors were critical in securing employment and livelihoods as well as ensuring food security.

BY MUNESU NYAKUDYA

Speaking at a science-expert workshop on aligning universities’ teaching programmes and research in aquaculture, Phiri also re-affirmed FAO’s support to the sustainable development of fisheries in line with the organisation’s mandate to eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

“Aquaculture and fisheries generate employment and ensure food security and good nutrition to often-vulnerable communities; contributing to the food security and nutrition of approximately 200 million Africans”, he said.

Phiri said under the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), Sadc member countries and their partners will be making explicit political commitments in the form of policies, investment plans, programmes, legal frameworks and the allocation of necessary resources to eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

In a statement, FAO said the experts’ workshop was successful in building on an already existing initiative in Zimbabwe on a mechanism for an Aquaculture Scientific Mentorship Scheme for students and young scientists in the Sadc region to develop as professionals equipped with the skill sets required in the industry.

“The meeting resolved to build and enhance partnership opportunities amongst tertiary and research institutions, and private and public sector through regional and continental platforms and through existing national and regional partnerships,” FAO said.

“University representatives who were present also expressed their willingness to influence policy-making processes by involving policymakers and other stakeholders in the science fora.”

The United Nations body added: “The holistic planning and guidance tools for aquaculture which were introduced in the workshop by resource organisations, which were present, could play an important role and be used as tools in development and implementation of National Aquaculture plans and strategies.”