ECOWAS Hunger-Free Target: On Track? Pt.2
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Introduction
Welcome to the Agric Journalist blog! Last week, we started our journey to find out ECOWAS’ commitment to achieving hunger-free targets in 2025. In part one of this blog, we looked at the Economic Community of West Africa Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) and the MALABO declaration to end hunger in the region in 2025.
In this blog post, we shall take a look at some of the initiatives ECOWAS has put in place to make sure they achieve this target in 2025. It is important to state that the Malabo Declaration is also to achieve SDG2 by 2030.
Sustainable Development Goal Two (SDG 2)
SDG 2 is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. It aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 22% of the population in West Africa is undernourished, and more than 30% of children under five are stunted due to chronic malnutrition. These are alarming figures that require urgent action.
Is ECOWAS on Track to Achieve the Hunger free target by 2025?
Now, let’s address the burning question – is ECOWAS making headway towards achieving the MALABO Declaration’s hunger-free target by 2025? Well, the answer isn’t as simple as a “yes” or “no.” ECOWAS has made significant strides in promoting sustainable agriculture and regional integration. Let’s take a look at some initiatives by ECOWAS to achieve the hunger-free target by 2025
Ecowas Key Initiatives
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Strengthening Regional Agricultural Policies:
ECOWAS plays a vital role in developing and implementing agricultural policies that promote sustainable practices, enhance productivity, and support smallholder farmers. Through initiatives such as the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), the regional body works towards boosting food production and improving agricultural productivity by implementing strategies like capacity building, access to finance, and technology transfer.
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Enhancing Food Security:
ECOWAS recognizes that achieving food security is fundamental to sustainable development. To address this, the organization has implemented programs such as the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP) to improve productivity in staple crops, enhance market access, and reduce post-harvest losses.
These efforts contribute to increasing the availability of food and reducing hunger across the region. Example: The ECOWAS-supported Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project has successfully introduced improved yam varieties to farmers, leading to increased yields and improved incomes for smallholder farmers in the region.
Also, the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve (EFR) provides emergency food assistance to member states during times of crisis. It acts as a safety net, ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to food in the face of natural disasters or conflicts.
The reserve has already intervened 17 times in response to requests from Member States for a total volume of 54,500 metric tonnes of cereals. The interventions involved availing both food grains and nutritional products to requesting Member States.
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Promoting Regional Trade and Market Integration:
ECOWAS aims to foster regional trade and market integration to ensure the availability and accessibility of food within the region. The ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) eliminates trade barriers, facilitating the movement of agricultural products and promoting regional cooperation.
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Addressing Climate Change and Resilience:
ECOWAS recognizes the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and food security. The organization actively promotes climate-smart agriculture practices, sustainable land management, and the conservation of biodiversity. By prioritizing adaptation and mitigation strategies, ECOWAS aims to build resilience within the agricultural sector.
The ECOWAS Climate-Smart Agriculture Program (ECOSAP) for example promotes sustainable farming techniques such as agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and improved water management. These practises enable farmers to adapt to climate change, protect natural resources, and increase productivity.
My Opinion
With some of the key initiatives undertaken, it is right to say that the ECOWAS has made significant progress in its journey towards achieving the MALABO declaration’s hunger-free target. However, with the insurgence within the region, some West African countries have closed their borders, making it difficult to transport food products, hence reducing regional trade and causing the hike in food prices.
A few months ago, onion sellers in Ghana complained about the scarcity of onions in the market due to the Niger crisis and the closed border within the West African region. The clock is ticking really fast. If proper measures aren’t put in place, two years from now, the story could be “We tried, but we couldn’t achieve it”
As agriculture journalists, it’s our duty to keep a close eye on these developments and celebrate the successes while shedding light on the challenges that lie ahead. Together, we can help drive sustainable agricultural growth and transform the lives of millions in West Africa. Stay tuned for more updates on ECOWAS’s journey and other exciting agricultural news!
Also read: Is ECOWAS on Track to Achieve the MALABO Declaration’s Hunger-Free Target 2025?
