13 October, 2005

Press Release
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

FARMERS, EXPERTS AND OFFICIALS DISCUSS IMPACT OF AIDS
ON FOOD PRODUCTION

Lusaka, 13 October (ECA) – Farmers, experts and officials meet in Lusaka, Monday 17 October, to discuss the impact of HIV/AIDS on smallholder agriculture and ways to secure food supplies and rural livelihoods, despite widespread declining incomes and productivity.

The three-day workshop, 17-19 October, is convened by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). It will provide participants with an opportunity to share strategies that can mitigate the effect of the pandemic on rural development in Southern Africa.

Experts from all 11 countries in the sub-region will help identify effective policies for governments and development organizations to adopt.

Community leaders and representatives from partner and regional institutions, including GTZ, SADC, COMESA, OXFAM, FAO, UNAIDS, UNDP, WFP and NGOs are also expected to attend.

HIV/AIDS is having a damaging impact on smallholder agriculture in Southern Africa. Problems are evident in areas such as food security; depletion of labour; loss of inter-generational knowledge and skills; loss of income, increased workload and land inheritance rights for women and youth.

Southern Africa continues to have the highest HIV prevalence in the world, leading to worsening levels of chronic ill health and death. The latest UNAIDS update on HIV/AIDS prevalence in southern Africa put the average rate of infection at over 20% of the population in six countries of the sub-region.

Smallholder agriculture is the main source of livelihood for many people in southern Africa. Achieving food insecurity is already a challenge because of factors like drought and poverty but HIV/AIDS has intensified the decline in agricultural production and other off-farm sources of livelihood.

Most experts now believe the fight against HIV/AIDS should be multi-sectoral, involving a combination of prevention, treatment and care and mitigation. Mitigation – reducing or offsetting the impact of the disease - is increasingly important, as illness and mortality take a greater toll.

Households, communities, governments and development partners are implementing a variety of interventions, including use of micro-finance, labour-sharing schemes, provision of more inputs like seed and fertilizer, promotion of drought-resistant crops such as cassava and sweet potato, and promotion of labour saving practices.