National News

Honour excites Chilima

 

Vice-President Saulos Chilima says Malawi and other African nations have the possibility of realising the potential of the agriculture sector for a more prosperous future.

Chilima was reacting to an announcement by the Malabo Montpellier Panel that he would co-chair a High Level Policy Dialogue Forum on African Agriculture and Food Security meeting in November in Cotonou, Benin.

Chilima: This is an opportunity to raise the potential of agriculture sector

According to a statement issued by the panel, Chilima will co-chair the inaugural meeting together with Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, Benin’s minister of State for Planning and Development.

The Vice-President’s press secretary Pilirani Phiri said Chilima’s appointment was an honour not only to him but the country as a whole.

Said Phiri: “This is an honour for every Malawian because such recognition gives the country an opportunity to be part of the global policy makers as such we must all be rejoicing.”

The forum provides a platform for decision makers at the highest level of government to review the evidence on progress that is being achieved on the ground towards meeting key agriculture and food security goals.

It also provides exchange on lessons and strategies to foster positive change across all African countries.

Reacting to his appointment, Chilima said he was delighted to co-chair the forum to support the members of the Malabo Montpellier Panel and also invited experts to make a real difference to the lives of Africans.

“We have an opportunity here to help realise the potential of the agriculture sector and learn lessons from the success we see all around us for a more prosperous future,” Chilima told the panel.

According to the statement, the Malabo Montpellier Panel consists of 17 leading African and European experts in agriculture, ecology, nutrition, public policy and global development.

“It focuses on facilitating access to high quality technical evidence to inform policy choices that accelerate progress towards the goals set out in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Malabo Declaration, and the Sustainable Development Goals,” reads the statement.

The Malabo Declaration, adopted by 54 African governments in 2014 commits signatory countries to halve the number of people in poverty by 2025 through inclusive agricultural growth that creates job opportunities for young people and women. n

 

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