By Joyce Ojanji

African leaders should join forces in addressing the triple threat problem that has worsened the food security situation in the continent.

This is according to Former Ethiopia Prime Minister, and board chair of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Hailemariam Dessalegn speaking during the fourth mid-year coordination meeting of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities and Mechanisms in Lusaka, Zambia.

Dessalegn noted that with 60% of the world’s poor people living in Africa, there is need for a quick action which includes collaboration to transform agriculture and food systems. “We need to build systems and institutions that can deliver the agriculture sector, markets, and trade to our farmers with the strong capacity and expertise to match,”he said.

The former Prime Minister called for better coordination among organizations with dedicated capacity for Regional economic communities (RECs), and between the African union commission and the African union development agency (AUDA-NEPAD) to be able to respond to the challenges at hand.

He offered AGRA’s  support, which comprises of over 200 experts from 29 African countries to support the process.