That was stated by the Vice President of Tanzania; Dr. Philip Mpango while officially opening the 53rd Annual Regional Conference for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region taking place in Arusha, Tanzania.

"Our countries need to start prioritizing farming, especially now, at the time when Climate Change is taking a toll on food production due to unpredictable weather and rain seasons," pointed out Dr. Mpango.

The Vice President recalled the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, adding it was high time African states started taking such conventions seriously.

"There are various steps that can be taken to boost agriculture and guarantee food security on the continent, including turning to irrigation farming, adopting smart agriculture and encouraging Foreign Direct Investments into the sector," said Dr. Mpango.

Earlier, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, Dr. Tulia Ackson had revealed that among the topics being addressed during the CPA conference include the issue of climate change, food security and involvement of the youth in the agricultural sector.

"But we have also realized that African countries need to unite and work together in order to tackle numerable challenges facing the continent," stated Dr. Tulia, adding that fostering parliamentary democracy and enhancing regional cooperation were other matters that came up at the 53rd Annual Regional Conference for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region).

On her part the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Africa Region Catherine Gotani Hara, who is also the Speaker of the Malawi National Assembly, said women participation in African parliaments still lags behind and this needs to be addressed as well.

The CPA Conference, taking place at Gran Melia Hotel, attracted nearly 300 participants.

The Arusha Conference featured three side events involving the Association organs, including the Africa Regional Conference workshops, CPA Africa Region Executive Committee meetings and the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Africa Regional Conference.

The 53rd CPA Africa Regional Conference brings to Arusha delegates from 14 out of the 19 CPA member parliaments, 10 speakers of National Assemblies and 3 Deputy Speakers.

In total, the African CPA Regional Conference has attracted more than 280 participants.

Since the year 2003, Tanzania has been hosting the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's Africa Regional Secretariat at the National Assembly premises in Dodoma. Previously the CPA was headquartered in Zimbabwe before the country was thrown out of the fold.

Founded in 1911 the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is one of the oldest established Commonwealth organisations.

In Africa it consists of 19 National Assemblies and 46 Provincial or County Parliaments. The CPA is an officially Accredited and Associated Commonwealth organisation.

While in the past the association covered mostly National Assemblies of Anglophonic countries, today Rwanda, a Francophone and Mozambique which was ruled by the Portuguese have joined the CPA as members.

The Commonwealth is supported by a network of more than 70 such accredited organisations and nine Associated Organisations all working in specialist areas from education to urban planning.

As an Associated organisation, the CPA is formally recognised as a part of the Commonwealth family and is therefore committed to the values and principles of the Commonwealth, as written in the Commonwealth Charter.