Mamer Abraham
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Technical experts from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states are in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to develop strategies for food safety and post-harvest loss management plans in the region.
The meeting that kicked off yesterday will pave the way for high-level ministerial adoption. It will also devise means of improving food security and nutrition in the IGAD region.
“Member states technical experts continue to shape the food safety and post-harvest loss strategies ahead of the high-level ministerial adoption meeting set for tomorrow,” the tweet from the IGAD Secretariat read in part.
The meeting will be attended by government officials from the ministries of agriculture and livestock in member states, government institutions in charge of the standards of food, and technical and development partners from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in East Africa and the World Bank in Africa.
IGAD said approximately 25 million people were food insecure and unable to access affordable, nutritious, and safe food in the region.
It was also noted that small-scale farmers and producers lose up to 20 to 30 percent of their food each year, which makes them soak up the sea of poverty and nutrition insecurity. Hence, the meeting would assist small-scale producers, traders, millers, the private sector, NGOs, and government agencies in ensuring food safety and nutrition.
“Through the food safety and post-harvest loss strategies, small-scale producers, traders, and millers, the private sector, NGOs, and government agencies at the national level will have guiding instruments to strengthen their efforts and, ultimately, regional efforts towards ensuring food safety and nutrition,” it continued.
Last week, a report from the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) disclosed that about 7.76 million South Sudanese were in IPC Phase 3 or above and would face acute food insecurity from April to July 2023, or 63 percent of the analysed population.
The data for 2023 was greater by 200,000 than the prediction between April and July 2022, which was 7.74 million. Also, 63 percent of the analysed population is in IPC Phase or above.
The estimates for April and July 2022 placed 87,000 people in IPC Phase 5, facing catastrophe in Jonglei State, 67,000 in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, 13,000 in Lakes State, and 7,000 in Unity State.
Meanwhile, from April to July 2023, about 43,000 people are expected to face catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) in Akobo, Canal/Pigi, and Fangak counties of Jonglei State, as well as Leer and Mayiendit counties of Unity State, according to IPC, November 2022.
Kenya and Somalia were named as the countries with the worst food insecurity deteriorations, with 30 million, or 22 percent of the total population analysed, projected in IPC Phase 3 or above in 2023.
It elaborated that about 7.5 million people would be in an emergency (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC Phase 4)) in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
It is further projected that 19.9 million people will be in need of emergency food and livelihood assistance from June to September 2023, should the conflict in Sudan deteriorate.
The IGAD Secretary General, Workneh Gebeyehu, said such a report was due to the failure of the region to implement Sustainable Development Goal 2, about ending hunger and achieving food security and improved nutrition.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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