3 4 S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M U N I T Y influence on the rate of economic growth, the level of this key resource. But there is no regional framework to employment, demand for other goods, economic stability guide national policies and strategies in this area. In and on food security and overall poverty eradication. addition, emerging issues such as food safety and There is potential for increasing crop production in the biotechnology have also not been adequately captured by SADC region through intensification and expansion of FANR. The Sector has addressed specific issues like food hectarage under cultivation. Intensification through the safety in a fragmented manner, with no clear delegation of use of fertiliser, improved seed, irrigation, mechanisation authority and accountability for the development of and other technologies while expansion is valid option for policies to facilitate regional positions. The Sector has also countries such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of been slow to highlight and realign policies and strategies Congo, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. The entire to address the potential impact of HIV and AIDS on rural land mass of the region comprises 906,324,000 square households in general, and the food and agricultural kilometres or 30.9 percent of the total African land mass. sector, in particular. Furthermore, the FANR Sector has not Of this, 226,581,000 hectares (25%) is arable and been adequately linked to other related sectors, such as 48,653,300 hectares is under cultivation. This large land rural infrastructure, transport and tourism. mass implies that Member States are endowed with The following sections review sector-specific policies diverse soil and climatic characteristics; hence, they can and strategies, evaluate how far these policies and grow a variety of crops and rear a range of animals. strategies meet the strategic priorities of SADC, identify However, this potential is limited by the susceptibility of what needs to be put in place and examine the need to the region to droughts, floods, plant pests and animal refocus the policies and strategies. diseases, the vulnerability of the agricultural population to HIV and AIDS infection, and inadequacy of irrigation and transport infrastructure. Furthermore, although they play 3.4.2 FOOD SECURITY an important role in agriculture as producers, women are handicapped by inadequate access to and control of 3.4.2.1 resources, constraints that the RISDP will need to address. Review of the Current Policies and Strategies The overall objectives of FANR are to promote The Food Security policy in SADC is to ensure that all agricultural productivity and food security at household, people have access to an adequate diet to lead an active national and regional level; promote efficient development, and normal life. Currently, the region has adopted three utilization and conservation of natural resources; improve Strategies to achieve the food security policy as contained capacity in agriculture to transform national economies; in the Food Security Framework document, approved by generate domestic savings and foreign exchange to finance Council in 1997. The three Strategies are: a gradual, structural transformation of the region's i) agriculture-dependent ii) Improving Access to Food, and economies; and facilitate improvements in the welfare of the people of the region. Improving Food Availability iii) Improving Nutrition. This broad FANR Policy Framework recognizes On the issue of food availability, Member States are promoting food security as a priority objective. As a cross- required to promote agricultural production and cutting issue, food security is used as a basis for guiding productivity; take measures that increase competitiveness its strategies in all the sectors of the cluster. Furthermore, and promote trade. Member States are also urged to since its inception, the FANR Sector has made progress in promote the sustainable use of natural resources. establishing the institutional framework for implementing regional programmes to alleviate hunger and poverty. Regarding improving access to food, Member States are encouraged to adopt policies which will generate the Until recently, however, some of the pertinent issues maximum employment gains and incomes; introduce have not been addressed. One such issue is land tenure measures that improve income stability and equity; and reform. A number of Member States are now working to develop safety nets (such as food for work, cash for work resolve inequities in land ownership, access and use of and targeted distribution of inputs or food) for vulnerable