CISANET calls for collaboration to address challenges of food system and climate change


By Dean Chisambo

Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) has called for collaboration among various players to address challenges of climate change and food systems across Africa.

CISANET monitoring and evaluation manager Edwin Munthali made the call during the four days of  Food Agriculture Natural Resources Pan Africa Network ( FANRPAN) annual regional multi-stakeholders policy dialogue on Wednesday in Lilongwe.

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Munthali emphasized that coordination and collaboration amongst government, private sector and civil Society organisations ( CSOs) can achieve a food system out comes other than operating  in silence.

He further said there is observation that the food system that has been produced  is failing to deliver on health but not nutritious diet hence the ways of production are leading to other challenges like environmental degradation, pollution and alike.

Munthali disclosed that they are trying to discuss in order to find ways that will address the food security problem and also taking care of the environment as well as making sure that the diet is delivering in nutrition health .

On his part National Planning Commission (NPC) director for policy and communication Dr Andrew Jamali said there is a need of improving research out comes in order to deal with the challenges and the causes of food system and food security.

Jamali said  Malawi  is moving further because it has a  national research agenda policy which outlines broad  about the research themes and identifying strategic challenges in terms of information and evidence in various areas of the development frameworks inline with Malawi implementation Plan (MIP 1) of the agenda 2063.

He added that in order to address those kinds of challenges Malawi is making strides because the universities and the education centers are already doing the research on pest and diseases, soil health as well as biotechnology to treat  the seed in order to produce high to feed the nation.

FANRPAN is leading the annual  regonal Multi-stakeholders policy dialogue which is hosting by CISANET is conducted under the theme: Policy Pathways Towards Transforming Africa’s Agriculture and Food System. The dialogue which started on 6th August is expected to wrap up on 9th August 2024 and has brought together various stakeholders across Africa.