Ministers responsible for agriculture, food security, fisheries and aquaculture from across Southern Africa are set to convene in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on 29 May for high-level discussions aimed at addressing growing regional challenges in food production, livestock health and fisheries development.
The meeting, organised by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), will bring together policymakers and technical experts to assess the state of regional food systems, climate resilience and the blue economy amid mounting environmental and economic pressures.
South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, will chair the ministerial session in his capacity as chairperson of the Joint Committee of SADC Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Ahead of the ministerial session, senior officials from SADC member states are expected to meet on 27 and 28 May to prepare recommendations and review progress on regional agricultural and fisheries programmes.
According to the SADC Secretariat, the meeting will evaluate implementation of previous summit and council decisions while considering measures to strengthen regional food systems and improve resilience against climate-related shocks.
A major focus of the talks will be the region’s food and nutrition security outlook, including a review of the 2025/26 rainfall season, agricultural production forecasts and climate projections for the 2026/27 season.
Ministers are also expected to discuss progress under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), including findings from its fifth biennial review. The meeting will further explore strategies to increase youth participation in agribusiness as governments seek to modernise agriculture and create employment opportunities for young people.
Regional cooperation initiatives such as the SADC Rice Development Strategy and harmonised seed and fertiliser regulatory systems are also expected to come under review during the discussions.
Livestock health will feature prominently on the agenda following recent outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in parts of Southern Africa. SADC said ministers would receive updates on coordinated efforts to contain the disease after the SADC Council of Ministers called in March 2026 for stronger cross-border surveillance, harmonised vaccination programmes and improved information sharing among member states.
The regional bloc said the measures are aimed at protecting livestock-based livelihoods, safeguarding regional trade and strengthening food security.
The meeting will also examine fisheries governance and aquaculture development as SADC countries seek to unlock opportunities within the blue economy. Ministers are expected to assess implementation of the Programme for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors (PROFISHBLUE), alongside initiatives focused on tilapia genetic improvement and revisions to the SADC Aquaculture Strategy and Action Plan.
SADC said the outcomes of the Victoria Falls meeting would contribute to broader regional frameworks, including the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030, the SADC Food and Nutrition Security Strategy and SADC Vision 2050, as the bloc works to advance sustainable economic growth and regional integration among its 16 member states.
