Login

Lost your password?

Sign Up

Register

Login

Login

Lost your password?

Register

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
  • Home
  • Banking
  • Industry & Trade
  • Investing
  • Money Deals
  • Regional Markets
  • Tech & Biz
  • Countries
  • Opinion

Africa's
Investment
Gateway

The Exchange
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe
This Month's Edition
Previous Editions
  • Home
  • Banking
  • Industry & Trade
  • Investing
  • Money Deals
  • Regional Markets
  • Tech & Biz
  • Countries
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The Exchange
  • Home
  • Banking
  • Industry & Trade
  • Investing
  • Money Deals
  • Regional Markets
  • Tech & Biz
  • Countries
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The Exchange
LOGIN

EAC 14th Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security ends in Arusha

Need for the region to implement harmonized policies to guarantee sustainable agricultural production was emphasized

by Mustapha Juma
June 27, 2021
in Industry and Trade
0
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
The East African Community’s 14th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security (SCAFS) has ended in Arusha, Tanzania.
The meeting that was chaired by Kenya’s Chief Administrative Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives  Mr. Lawrence Angolo Omuhaka closed on Friday June 25, 2021.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Omuhaka, noted the urgent need for the region to implement harmonized policies and to operationalize regional instruments in order to guarantee sustainable agricultural production, trade in commodities and to attain sustainable regional food and nutrition security.

Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)

Africa’s policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all dubbed the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) was also brought to attention during the meeting.
Mr. Omuhaka while commenting on the policy noted that AU Member States were required to demonstrate their commitment to the ideals and principles of CAADP, by following relevant CAADP processes.
“This will ensure that there are appropriate actions to achieve accelerated agricultural growth and transformation for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods for the population on the continent, by 2025,” said Mr. Omuhaka.
He further noted with concern that the Second CAADP Biennual Report submitted to the AU General Assembly in February, 2020 showed that the Eastern Africa region, with the exception of the Republic of Rwanda, was not on track on most targets.
He added that the report portrays the absolute and relative performance of countries and indicates that there was a lot to be done in order to transform the agricultural sector in Africa.
“As a region we should applaud the Republic of Rwanda for emerging the best performing country on the continent for the second time, scoring 7.24 which was above the minimum score of 6.66 required to be on-track”, he added.

Agricultural trade and industry

Director of Productive Sectors Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana who spoke on behalf of the EAC Secretariat noted that more than 70% of the industries in EAC were agro-based, including production of agricultural inputs; while 75% of the traded goods are agricultural commodities and products.
According to him, linking agricultural trade and industry is imperative in promoting agricultural production as industries provide the market for agricultural produce while trade delivers processed agricultural products to the market/ consumer.
Also Read: Tech giant Huawei partners with ATU to boost ICT transformation in Africa
He highlighted the need to promote and enhance commercial agriculture, urging the region to draw lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly on the need to promote local industries.

Importing products

Mr. Jean brought to attention the issue of the East African region relying too much on importation of products yet it has the potential to produce its own. He observed that the region had been importing many products from outside prior to the pandemic, yet it was possible to produce them locally.
“Textile industries need to be promoted instead of depending on import of used cloths. It is necessary to promote local consumption and procurement of locally produced goods as emphasized by the Heads of State,” he noted.

Food Security

According to the East African Community, there was commendable commitment and progress towards meeting global and continental nutrition targets, as efforts to reduce levels of malnutrition were evident across all the Partner States.
However, the Sectoral Council noted that levels of stunting, underweight and anaemia are still high above the targets set under the CAADP/Malabo Declaration. The meeting therefore noted the need for the Partner States to direct more technical and financial resources in projects and programmes established to enhance food and nutrition security.

Aflatoxin prevention and control

The Sectoral Council directed the Secretariat and urged Partner States to fast track implementation of the EAC Aflatoxin Prevention and Control Strategy.
Aflatoxin contamination poses a serious threat to human and animal health, and to the economies of the EAC Partner States. The strategy contains recommendations on interventions required to mitigate impacts and effects of aflatoxin along the food and feed value chains.

Pest management

During the meeting, the Sectoral Council adopted Standard Operating Procedures for operationalising Pest Risk Analysis (PRAs) for maize, beans and rice.
In November, 2019, the Council of Ministers approved harmonised procedures for conducting Pest Risk Analysis (PRAs) for maize, beans and rice. Subsequently, development of harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for inspection of grain (maize, beans and rice) were required to operationalise the PRAs.
In addition, the Sectoral Council adopted seven additional priority crops – banana, cassava, potato (ware and seed), sorghum, soybean, groundnuts and pineapple and directed the Secretariat to embark on development of Pest Risk Analysis (PRAs) for the selected crops.

Livestock development

The Sectoral Council directed the EAC Secretariat to develop programmes and dedicate resources to promote development of priority livestock value chains, given the sector’s importance in the economies of the Partner States.
The meeting also directed the Secretariat to finalise and widely disseminate the EAC Strategy for the Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases and Zoonoses, 2020-2024, as well as development of guidelines and standard operating procedures for cross-border surveillance, preparedness and response to transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases.
Also Read: Nigerian school to accept cryptocurrency as means of fees payment
The strategy and guidelines are expected to spell out ways and means for the Partner States to collaborate in mitigating and managing outbreaks of major trans-boundary animal and zoonotic diseases such as Food and Mouth Disease (FMD), Rift Valley Fever (RVF), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Anthrax, Rabies, Trypanosomosis, Newcastle Disease (ND), African Swine Fever (ASF) and Theileriosis among others.
The Ministers also observed the need for the EAC Secretariat to develop programmes and dedicate resources to promote development of fisheries and aquaculture in the EAC region.
The Ministers appreciated and took note of the different initiatives coordinated by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) for the sustainable management and development of fisheries and aquaculture in the EAC.
Tags: East African Community (EAC)Food and nutrition securitythe Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)the Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security (SCAFS)

STATE OF ECONOMY - GET THE REPORT

ASSESSING EAST AFRICA

Loading...

Mustapha Juma

Talented and immensely creative journalist with a commitment to high-quality research and writing with over 5 years of professional experience. Dedication to sound investigative research methods and a strong desire to know the truth of the matter. Excellent reporting and interviewing skills and award-winning writing techniques. Experience writing and reporting across a variety of platforms, including Opera News Kenya, DailyActive.info, LitKenya.com and Scooper News

Related Posts

Africans transforming the beauty and cosmetics market. www.theexchange.africa
Industry and Trade

Africa: Women to spend more billions on beauty products as infrastructure spending grows

May 18, 2022
Tanzania and Uganda Enhance Trade and bilateral relations during Samia's state visit. www.theexchange.africa
Industry and Trade

Tanzania, Uganda scrap road tolls and allow sugar exports in enhanced bilateral relations

May 18, 2022
FBW Group to design Medical Research Council Unit in west Africa FBW Group to design Medical Research Council Unit in west Africa www.theexchange.africa
Industry and Trade

FBW Group to design Medical Research Council Unit in West Africa

May 18, 2022
Next Post

How admission of DRC to EAC will benefit the regional bloc

AFRICA: Why Climate change Threatens transport systems

KENYAN MAP SHOWING OUTBREAKS IN 2020

Kenya’s constant measles, rubella threat amid Covid-19 crisis

Please login to join discussion




This months edition

May Edition

Features

EdTech role in African development
Tech & Business

EdTech’s role in African development

by Kanyali Muthui
May 16, 2022
0

Due to the pandemic, the topic of innovation in education has never been more crucial.  While most developed countries moved...

Read more
investment in African science and technology
Tech & Business

Investing in Africa’s science and technology: Where are we now?

by Kanyali Muthui
May 16, 2022
0

The continent’s digital revolution can largely be driven by building the necessary skills for the short- and long-term future, and...

Read more
Fintech revolution in Africa
Tech & Business

The Fintech Revolution in Africa’s FX Markets

by Kanyali Muthui
May 11, 2022
0

With over 548 million registered mobile money users in sub-Saharan Africa, increased internet access and readily available mobile money solutions,...

Read more
www.theexchange.africa
Countries

US – Nigeria Trade Relations: An Overview

by Wanjiku Njugunah
May 2, 2022
0

Nigeria is currently the United States' 54th largest goods trading partner, with US$7.8 billion in total goods trade as of...

Read more
A previous conference for African Insurtech sector. The Insurtech boom is deepening insurance uptake in Africa. www.theexchange.africa
Tech & Business

Insurtech boom deepening the uptake of insurance in Africa

by june njoroge
May 2, 2022
0

Kenya-based Pula is another distinguished insurtech making waves in the continent. It provides small scale farmers with agricultural insurance and...

Read more

News

Banking
Industry & Trade
Investing
Money Deals
Regional Markets
Tech & Biz
Opinion

Countries

Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
Burundi
Rwanda
Southern Africa
Ethiopia

More

My Account
Contact us
Advertise
About us
Help Center

Subscribers Center

E-paper
Premium Stories
Education Rates
Corporate Subscriptions
Weekely Newsletter

  • My account
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund Policy – The Exchange
  • Sitemap

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Banking
  • Industry & Trade
  • Investing
  • Money Deals
  • Regional Markets
  • Tech & Biz
  • Countries
  • Opinion
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart

© 2021 The Exchange - Powered by MediapixManaged by Supported by Digihandler,

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In