On the 24th August 2022, EAGC hosted a delegation from the State Government of Enugu in the Federal Republic of Nigeria who were on an experiential learning tour of Kenya to learn about structured trade in agricultural commodities. The delegates were drawn from the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project coordinators in Enugu State and was led by the Deputy Governor, H.E. Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo. The project is an agricultural intervention in Nigeria collaborating with the World Bank, Federal Government and various Nigerian States implementing the Project.
The courtesy visit opens new opportunities for EAGC and its Grain Business Institute to support agribusiness stakeholders in Nigeria to advance trade in the country and in the larger Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This will in turn build on the accomplishments of the regional bloc and that of the East Africa Community to deepen economic integration fronted by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The Free Trade Area through the AfCFTA Private Sector Engagement Plan has a focus on agro-processing as one of the key priority sectors, based on its production capabilities and the potential for import substitution to reduce the continents’ over-dependence on imports. Tapping on these opportunities will see reduced grain imports by the continent which is a major importer of grains, and instead promote intra-regional grain trade in the continent.
EAGC is working closely with the stakeholders to organize a study tour for a delegation from Kano state, Nigeria to Rwanda to learn on bridging the Microfinance gap for smallholder farmers who are largely financially excluded. The tour is scheduled for the 6th to 8th September, 2022.
The study tour follows similar study visits by Nigerian government officials and those from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria, to study WRS & Structured Trade and Strategic Food Reserve Systems respectively in the recent past.
