Hunger will be a thing of the past in the region should plans by the East African Community to start formal cross border trade in food yield positive results.

Consultations to generate laws to enhance food security have kicked off, with promises of support by the five member states.

“Food insecurity is largely due to a leadership crisis. As a political class, we must reorganise the administration of food distribution in the region,” said Dan Kidega, a Uganda MP at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

He spoke during consultations on food security in Kampala last week.

“There is a lot of poor planning at national levels. A regional food strategy is the way to go.”

The EAC Secretariat and EALA members say borders should be opened to allow internal trade in food — from the surplus areas to the deficit ones.

About 20 million people in East Africa are facing hunger.

They are dependent on emergency food aid — which distorts regional economics.

However, various hurdles still lie in the way to food security in the region.

For instance, during the consultative process, the majority of EALA members said it would be necessary to first harmonise laws and policies on food production and land tenure.

“We shall not change anything unless we have an agrarian reform, like the British did two centuries ago. Our governments should take this issue as a priority,” said Fortunatua Masha, an EALA MP from Tanzania.

The proposals will guide the formation of the Food Security Protocol that will bind the five member states — Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania.

The MPs said 10 per cent of their partner states’ budgets should be invested in rural areas, as opposed to research and extension services — as agreed during the Maputo Declaration.

In the new food legislation, provisions will be made to compel partner states to shift storage facilities to the regional headquarters.

Also, all member states will have to create buffer stocks, the MPs said.

The partner states also ruled out future dependence on food aid, which has led to price distortion and lower food production.

“We shouldn’t depend on food aid. Let’s set aside a pool that will help distribute food in the region,” said Bohela Lunogelo, the executive director of Economic and Social Research Foundation.

The foundation is the leading agency on consolidation of the region’s new food law.

Food insecurity has been rising in East Africa lately.

It has resulted in stunted growth, especially in western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, southern Tanzania and northern and southern Kenya.

In 2007, demand for food remained strong despite rising prices.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics says informal cross-border food exports totalled $126.3 million, according to a 2007 survey.

Demand remained strong in the first half of 2008.

Researchers say most cross-border trade in East Africa is informal, with high transaction costs.

As a result, such trade has been low and unstable.