African trade body warns that restrictions on cross border movement will cause food insecurity

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, or COMESA, has warned that restrictions on cross-border movement imposed in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic have adversely affected the supply of seeds and may lead to food insecurity.

In a statement released on May 4, COMESA, which covers a free trade area with 21 member states, recommended the classification of seeds as essential commodities, allowing unrestricted movement across the region.

"If the seed movement is not normalized in the next six months, 123 million out of 650 million people in the COMESA region will face starvation," the statement said.

"Closing borders or even slowing down the trans-boundary movement of seeds could create a significant problem in the seed supply chain. Regional countries need to ensure access to quality and improved seed for the 80 million small-scale farmers in the COMESA region and beyond."

According to COMESA, a good number of countries in the region have reported difficulties in moving seeds across borders. The regional body warned that if this trend continues, there will be inadequate harvests, a situation that will lead to food insecurity, malnutrition and hunger in African countries in the next few months.

"We appeal to member states to allow free movements of seed especially during this time of the coronavirus pandemic," said COMESA.

"By finding optimal locations for seed production, timing of harvest and localized expertise, the seed sector ensures steady supply of seed for farmers everywhere in the region and globally. No country today could fully supply farmers with quality seed of their choice solely from their own production."