Eastern Africa

Improving investment and stimulating agricultural growth to achieve food security in East Africa: Linking small-farmers to local and regional markets in staple foods

Entebbe, Uganda, 12-13 November  2010

The Rural Development Briefing in Eastern Africa on “Linking small-farmers to local and regional markets in staple foods”  was held in Entebbe, Uganda from the 12th to –the 13th November  2010. It discussed the challenges and opportunities in the process of linking the smallholder farmers to the local market as a strategy for improving investment and agricultural growth in the region: the role of an improved policy environment for a better regional competitiveness, the value added strategies and the role of ICT’s in this context, and the ways to strengthen food security through regional exchanges. The target group was more than 100 policy makers from Eastern Africa and other African countries.

Friday 12th November

9h00-9h30   Introductory remarks:  Mrs. Emiliana Tembo, COMESA Director of Gender, Isolina Boto, Head CTA

Brussels Office, Philip Kiriro, President of the East African Farmers Federation, Cris Muyunda, CEO, ACTESA

9h30-13h00 Panel 1 - Improved policy environment for better regional competitiveness

This session will look at regional integration as an important strategy for widening markets and creating economies of scale within the COMESA region. The establishment of harmonized policies and systems has the potential to increases trade flows and to promote regional food security across the region and amongst regions. The new ACTESA initiative is aimed at supporting food security in the region.

Panelists:

-       Regional integration: issues and  challenges for the agriculture in the region

Emiliana Tembo, Director of Gender, COMESA

-       Constraints and opportunities in local and regional markets

Stephen Muchiri, CEO, Eastern African Farmers Federation (EAFF) [Presentation]

-       Policy environment and regional new initiatives: the case of ACTESA

Cris Muyunda, CEO, ACTESA [Presentation]

-       Market Influences and Problems/Barriers in Agricultural Marketing

Ian Goggin, Structured Trade Specialist, USAID Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Programme – COMPETE [Executive Summary] [Presentation]

14h00-17h00     Panel 2 – Value added strategies and the role of ICT’s

There is a need to foster intra regional trade and value added markets in grains, promoting purchases from smallholders and increase the integration of producers in regional markets as to meet food security. The increasing availability and affordability of new information technologies offers a potential for farmers access to local and regional markets.

Panelists:

-       Fostering the adoption of Regional Market Information tools and mobile technologies by smallholder farmers in regional trade and agroprocessing

Fostina Mani, Vice Chair & Kenya Director, Eastern Africa Grain Council [Presentation]

-       The benefits of warehouse receipt system for farmers

Alex Rwego, Manager, Uganda Commodity Exchange [Presentation]

-       The role of market information systems in staple food

Robert M. Kintu, Principal Consultant, FIT, Uganda [Executive Summary]

-       The SPS measures at regional level: learning from ACP-EU experiences on food safety

Jacky Le-Gosles, European Commission, DG Health Consumers [Executive Summary] [Presentation]

-       Contributing to Linking small –farmers to local and regional markets in vegetable marketing and trade

Ronia Tanyongana, AVRDC, The world vegetable center. [Presentation]

Saturday 13th November

Panel 3 – The way forward: ways to strengthen food security through regional exchanges

This session will share experiences amongst the various stakeholders on the support needed in terms of improved and expanded market facilities in staple foods; increased integration of producers in regional commercial markets; expanded employment opportunities in rural areas and upgraded skills in value-addition.

-       Nelson Juma Sumba, Cereal Growers Association (CGA), Kenya [Presentation]

-       Tayebwa Bernard, Manager, Agribusiness Unit, Uganda Cooperative Alliance Ltd (UCA) [Presentation]

-     Willigis O. Mbogoro, Executive Secretary, Tanzania Federation of Cooperatives Ltd

-       Rose Ndung’u, Regional Manager, GrainPro Kenya [Presentation]

-       Joseph Nkandu, Executive director, NUCAFE [Presentation]

-       Grace Mijiga Mhango, Director, Women in Agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa (WASAA) [Presentation]

After presentations from the private sector, we will have an exchange of experiences in plenary.

Conclusions

3 Responses to Eastern Africa

  1. Peter Matthews says:

    I would like to know what information you have on support actions for East Africa.

    Regards

    Peter Matthews
    The Foreign Press Association

  2. Donald Trump says:

    I think youve created some really interesting points. Not also many people would really think about this the way you just did. Im really impressed that theres so significantly about this topic thats been uncovered and you did it so nicely, with so considerably class. Good 1 you, man! Actually fantastic stuff here.

  3. Mr Matthews thanks for the speech you gave at the Uganda convention last week. I am a farmer myself with a coffee farm of about 80 acres. I have lots of questions for you but unfortunately you did not leave us an email address or telephone to contact you. I hope I have not wasted your time to ask you to contact me if possible to discuss some issues as regards helping by way of funding African farmers . Contacts are winston@mukasaestates.com or winstonham@hotmail.com and my tel is +44 7786863475.

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