Africa-Press – Tanzania. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo has reaffirmed Tanzania’s support for the concept of food sovereignty, stating that it is the right of communities to determine how they produce, distribute, and consume food in line with their needs, cultures, and priorities.
The minister made the statement during the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4) held in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia on Tuesday in a Ministerial Roundtable discussion on Food Sovereignty and National Pathways to Accelerate Food Systems Transformation.
Addressing the various delegates at the meeting, Mr Kombo said that for Tanzania, food sovereignty is not a distant dream, but a fundamental requirement for the well-being of current and future generations especially in light of challenges such as climate change, rising food prices, post-harvest losses, and disruptions in global supply chains.
“Food system transformation requires national and community ownership, respect for cultural traditions, and environmental protection. The right to food is also the right to choose how we feed our families,” Mr Kombo said.
Elaborating, he outlined several initiatives taken by Tanzania in implementing the concept which includes empowering smallholder farmers, fishers, and pastoralists with tools and capital, revitalizing traditional agricultural knowledge, enhancing food value chains, and promoting climate-resilient agriculture through the National Climate Smart Agriculture Programme.
He also mentioned the implementation of Phase II of the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP II) and the strengthening of food storage and processing to reduce post-harvest losses.
The UNFSS+4 Summit brought together high-level leaders from various countries, international organizations, and development partners, aiming to accelerate the implementation of commitments made during the inaugural UN Food Systems Summit in 2021.
In another development, at the meeting minister Kombo met with Tanzanian youth leaders driving food systems transformation through GAIN’s Youth4Food Campaign.
In the course, he congratulated the youth for being part of a significant shift in the food sector, urging them to use the opportunity to bring innovative ideas and lead by example in transforming food systems towards improved nutrition, safety, and sustainability in Tanzania.
GAIN project aims to empower youth to engage in policy making, strategy development, and the implementation of food systems transformation for a better future for current and future generations.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
