Luanda: The Support Towards the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy Phase II (STOSAR II) of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has received a financial boost of 10 million euros, courtesy of the European Union (EU), as announced by Angolan Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Isaac dos Anjos. The announcement was made during the launch ceremony of STOSAR II in Luanda. Angola is set to benefit from 250,000 euros of the total amount, which will be allocated to finance government programs.
According to Angola Press News Agency, this funding, to be disbursed over a four-year period, aims to operationalize the agricultural policies of Angola and other SADC member states. Minister dos Anjos emphasized that the continuation of the project in Angola will focus on strengthening animal health and addressing cross-border diseases affecting trade in animals and products of animal origin, such as foot-and-mouth disease, ruminant plague, and pathogenic avian influenza.
The minister reflected on the achievements of STOSAR I, launched in 2019, and stated that the new phase of the project would continue to promote food security, economic development, poverty reduction, and regional integration through agriculture. Despite these efforts, he acknowledged that Angola still faces challenges such as data gaps, changing dietary patterns, policy deficiencies, and limitations in knowledge sharing.
According to the minister, Angola also faces challenges in collecting appropriate data and assessing food availability, as well as in preparing a comprehensive food balance sheet. The STOSAR II project, developed by the SADC secretariat in partnership with the FAO, is the result of an extended consultative process with member countries, building on the lessons and results achieved in phase 1.
The initiative aims to improve access to markets for the region's vegetable and animal production, strengthen the capacity of SADC member countries to meet international export requirements, and enhance the competitiveness of the region's agricultural products globally. The first phase of the project, executed over four years, was financed with nine million euros from the European Union to promote agricultural activity in 16 countries in the region.
The phase 1 report indicates that the project provided technical support to over 86 professionals from the Institute of Agrarian Development across several provinces including Luanda, Bengo, Huambo, Benguela, Hula, Namibe, Bi©, and Cuanza-Sul.
