In these dire and turbulent times of global conflict, our strategy of accelerating national self-sufficiency in cereals must be supported by all, Government and private sector alike.
We must discount food imports from our national food security calculus.
Conflict in Eastern Europe has made traditional surplus units in the global cereal markets uncertain, unlikely even.
Both Russia and Ukraine have played that role, which is no longer possible or likely in present circumstances of conflict.
Last year’s national maize and wheat output clearly showed self-sufficiency in both is within our grasp.
What remains is to create conditions where these output levels are consistent and predictable, whatever vagaries the weather or situations of global conflict might visit us.
As we prepare for this year’s wheat programme, we must aim for national self-sufficiency. We came very close to it last year; we must achieve it this time around.
Reforms in the institutional arrangements on agricultural financing must continue to be reviewed so farmers are better served.
We must now fund agriculture with patient capital. Short-term commercial loans are not the way.
Worldwide, including in the West, agriculture is financed through affordable money.
European agricultural subsidies under Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, are instructive.
In the current budget, Government set aside US$120 million towards revamping and expanding our irrigation capacity.
Dam construction must continue across provinces.
As we move forward, dam construction should be done by national companies.
The private sector should gear itself for this new shift which we have already seen at work in our road construction.
We must rely on local resources and expertise.
The global supply chain disruptions because of both Covid-19 and the current conflict in Eastern Europe underscore the need to domesticate value chains.
In Government, led by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, we weekly look at, and interrogate the list of finished goods which our economy continues to import.
We have taken a deliberate decision to progressively reduce this list of imported finished goods by up-scaling local production, and by starting new value chains for import substitution.
I direct responsible Ministries, namely Industry and Commerce and Finance and Economic Development to intensify interaction with the manufacturing sector so this goal of domesticating value chains for greater import substitution is expedited.
More than a strategy for cushioning ourselves against exogenous shocks, it is also a strategy of enhanced employment creation through value addition and beneficiation of our primary resources.
Above all, it is a strategy for ensuring we manufacture to export under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).
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