Speakers and heads of parliaments from across Africa have advocated increased budgetary allocations to agriculture to enhance productivity and build internal capacity for food production to eliminate Africa’s import dependency.
The lawmakers suggested this in a fourteen-point recommendation made at the end of a two-day Conference of Speakers of African Parliaments (COSAP), the first of its kind, held on 10th May, 2022 at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
“There should be greater oversight and increased budgetary allocations to ensure enhanced agricultural productivity and building of internal capacity for food production to eliminate Africa’s import dependency.
“Therefore, legislation is required to enhance farmers’ access to inputs and credit.
“This should include institutionalizing minimum budget allocation to the agricultural sector across member States,” said the lawmakers.
The lawmakers, among other things, also agreed to foster inter-parliamentary exchange and encourage existing inter-parliamentary institutions such as the Pan-African Parliament.
The participating Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments included Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Nigeria (Convener); Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Boughali, Algeria; Rt. Hon. Cavage Yeguie Djibril, Cameroon; Rt. Hon. Mohamed Ali Houmed, Djibouti; Rt. Hon. Speaker Petros Mavimbela, Kingdom of Eswatini; Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Ghana; Rt. Hon. Catherine Gothani Hara, Malawi; Rt. Hon. Donatille Mukabalisa, Rwanda; Rt. Hon. Khatri Addouh, Sahwari Arab Democratic Republic; Rt. Hon. Delfim Neves, Sao Tome and Principe; President Moustapha Niasse, Sénégal; Rt. Hon. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, South Africa; Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, South Sudan; and Rt. Hon. Jacob Francis Mudenda, Zimbabwe.