Story by Memory Chamisa
Government representatives attending the 12th edition of the World Governments Summit in Dubai say achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 remains a top priority.
This Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka held various engagements with the main one on the sustainable development goals agenda.
Dr Masuka, who is also the chairperson for SDG Number 2 on Zero Hunger for the next two years, highlighted the urgency for governments to scale up their efforts in ending hunger.
“In 2015, world leaders agreed to set ambitious targets for addressing humanity’s most pressing concerns, which shaped the 2030 agenda and became widely known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.
“We are only five years from 2030, but SDG 2, Zero Hunger, has completely slipped through our fingers. In 2023, there were between 713 million and 757 million undernourished people in the world. The latest estimates point to an uncomfortable truth, hunger is on the rise, and we will not meet SDG 2 by the end of this decade.”
Amid a global economic and political landscape marked by both opportunities and uncertainties, emerging economies, including Zimbabwe, have remained resilient and innovative in ensuring communities are food self-sufficient.
“The Government of Zimbabwe is committed to achieving food self-sufficiency and improving livelihoods across the nation,” Dr Masuka said.
“We have an agricultural programme called the Pfumvudza/ Intwasa which ensures effective conservation farming techniques that are key to addressing the challenges posed by climate change, and ensuring a stable food supply. The success of the Pfumvudza programme in Zimbabwe has prompted its replication across Africa, showcasing its potential for improving food security.”
The World Governments Summit continues to serve as a platform for global dialogue on sustainable agriculture and development of green infrastructure.
