By Linus Aleke
The Community Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has tasked ECOWAS Commission and Member States to urgently declare national emergency on food security so as to mitigate the impending famine in the region.
The Community parliament also, charged MPs to ensure the allocation of 10% of annual national budget to agricultural sector, as part of measure to address the imminent danger of hunger.
This is part of the recommendations of the Joint Committee’s Delocalised Meeting on Agriculture, others, which rounded up its meeting in Guinea Bissau, over the weekend.
Reading the draft report of the meeting on behalf of the Joint Committee, a Member of Parliament from Nigeria, Hon. Oghene Emma Egoh said, the meeting also, recommended that the ECOWAS Commission should liaise with the Nigerian Government to ensure that Fertilizer Manufacturing Companies in the country sell to needy countries in the region first before exporting in bulk to other regions.
The Parliament also frowned at the cutting down of trees to use as firewood and charcoal, stressing that it is greatly depleting the forest resources.
The Joint Committee said: “Governments should engage and partner with civil society and parliamentarians in information and education dissemination.
ECOWAS Commission to work with governments to come up with innovative strategy to mobilize funds to implement climate change initiative that enhance sustainable agricultural growth and production. IBID to work with national governments to mobilize funds to set up Agricultural Development Banks to provide loans and credits to farmers to invest in acquiring land and purchasing inputs and machinery for modern and improved agriculture and farming.
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Mobilize private sector in our various countries and outside investors to invest in climate change programmes and project. Already the regional Chamber of Commerce at the ECOWAS Commission is working to mobilize Chamber of Commerce in our various countries for their members to invest in agriculture and climate change programmes and projects. Declare food security as a national emergency, this will inspire the political will by the authorities to act urgently to address the crisis. ECOWAS Commission to work with the Nigerian Government to ensure that the Company manufacturing fertilizer in the country sell their fertilizer to the needy countries in the region, before exporting the bulk of it to Latin American Countries”.
On climate change the Joint Committee said, “the cutting down of the trees to use as firewood and charcoal is greatly depleting our forest resources. Research and investment should be carried out to develop alternative sources of energy such as gas, solar and other biodegradable materials for use in domestic cooking and other household requirements. Regional, national and local authorities to partner and collaborate to enforce by-laws to prevent pollution of our rivers and agricultural land through such activities as illegal mining.
Also, strict enforcement of emission and dumping of hazardous waste and other chemical pollutants. Develope and implement information and education strategies for the people to be aware of combating climate change”.
