The Zambezi Water Commission (ZAMCOM) Executive Secretary, Felix Ngamlagosi has called on public and private agricultural development stakeholders to work jointly in attracting finance to Africa's rainfed agriculture sector and build climate resilience.
Delivering welcome remarks at the hybrid Zambezi Rainfed Agriculture Investment Forum held in Gaborone, Botswana, from 8 – 9 August 2023, Mr. Ngamlagosi highlighted the importance of supporting smallholder farmers to increase crop yields and improve resilience to climate change.
He said, “With investments in improved soil management and access to locally sourced water, it is possible to increase soil moisture retention and provide supplementary irrigation.”
However, he said, “The challenge lies in scaling up investment in the sector to benefit smallholder farmers.”
The Executive Secretary emphasized the significance of rainfed agriculture in Africa, particularly its impact on food security, poverty alleviation, and climate change resilience.
The forum was held under the Transforming Investments in African Rainfed Agriculture (TIARA) Project being implemented by ZAMCOM in collaboration with the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
The TIARA project aligns with the Livelihoods Support pillar of the Strategic Plan for the Zambezi Watercourse and is aimed at presenting a business case for investing in enhanced rainfed agriculture and securing increased flows of public and private finance to the smallholder farmers in Africa.
The investment forum was attended by representatives of ZAMCOM Member States, organisations working directly with farmers in Africa, development finance institutions, multilateral as well as bilateral, commercial firms operating in the agricultural supply chains, private capital, and investment firms aiming to invest in smallholder farming and farmers unions.