The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), in collaboration with Trademark Africa (TMA), launched a three-year project on “Strengthening Competitiveness in Export-Oriented Staple Food Value Chains in East Africa” on the 8th of April in Dar es Salaam. This project is funded under the USAID-funded “Economic Recovery and Resilience Activities (ERRA)” program, implemented by TMA, and will boost export-oriented staple grains trade in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda – with Kenya being the destination market and Tanzania and Uganda as suppliers due to their surplus production.
This project is particularly significant given the volatility and gradual decline that has characterized the region’s trade in food commodities. Numerous challenges, such as minimal aggregation, informal trading, and limited integration of farmers into formal trade, contribute to substantial transactional costs. Furthermore, the absence of adequate storage and quality management infrastructure, a deficiency in post-harvest handling expertise, and a scarcity of information about export markets aggravate these issues.
Attended by over forty stakeholders of the staple grains value chain actors, the workshop sought to create awareness on the project which aims at achieving several objectives. See annex 1 on the list of participants. Firstly, the project seeks to strengthen farmer-operated grain business hubs (G-Hubs), enabling them to utilize technology to enhance grain production, quality, and trade. Additionally, the project aims to develop enterpriselevel capacities and institutional mechanisms to scale up Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards and quality compliance, thereby increasing export-oriented grain trade. Furthermore, it aims to establish and enhance an information hub to inform regional food balance sheets and shape national and regional food security and trade policies, fostering an enabling regulatory environment for trade.
Gerald Masila, Executive Director of EAGC, shared his excitement about launching the project, highlighting how it aligns with EAGC’s mission to support structured grain trade for the benefit of all involved. He stressed the project’s expected positive impacts on the sector, including better production, increased access to financing, skill improvement, guidance on SPS and quality standards, and stronger trade connections. Masila also emphasized EAGC’s commitment to food security and safety, focusing on ensuring food is accessible, available, acceptable, and affordable in the market.
Speaking at the launch, Michael Kitulizo, EAGC Country Director for Tanzania, highlighted EAGC’S vision to be the leading voice for the grain industry in Africa; he emphasized that through the project, EAGC will amplify export-oriented market access, empower smallholder farmers with the necessary skills and resources, enhance firms’ export capabilities, and foster collaboration to improve the policy environment.
Ms. Lilian Masalu, the Program Manager of Trade Mark Africa’s Tanzania Office, state that there is an opportunity through EAGC to expand the market reach. We aim to utilize this platform to explore capacity building initiatives, focusing on standards and market information systems. These efforts will help us understand the required quantity of produce in the markets and ensure our products meet the necessary standards. Trade Mark is committed to supporting both the private and public sectors to enhance the agricultural sector in the region.
Speaking on behalf of Craig Hart, the USAID Mission Director in Tanzania, Mr. Junior Ndesanjo emphasized Tanzania’s significant progress in the production of key staples like rice and maize. This surge reflects the country’s prowess as a leading net exporter within the region. However, Mr. Ndesanjo noted that despite these remarkable strides, Tanzania’s agricultural sector has yet to realize its full potential. Various challenges, particularly those impacting regional trade and competitiveness, continue to hinder its growth.
Irene Mlola, Director General of The Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority (COPRA), underscored COPRA’s commitment to supporting the project objectives. This support will encompass ensuring regulatory compliance within selected crops, which align with COPRA’s priority crops. Ms. Mlola emphasized that collaboration with EAGC will focus on public training and awareness initiatives regarding quality standards. The aim is to bolster the concept of self-regulation and compliance among SMEs/Growers. Additionally, efforts will be directed towards ensuring food security and fostering connections to joint opportunities. This includes aligning data and information to enhance trade insights and promote data-driven decision-making.
Gungu M. Mibavu, Director of Marketing and Food Security at the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted Tanzania’s active involvement in implementing trade protocols under EAC and SADC, positioning the country as the regional food basket. The decision to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area demonstrates Tanzania’s commitment to this role. Mr. Mibavu believes that through collaborative efforts, greater partnerships with the private sector can be forged to stimulate investment in agricultural sector development and achieve sustainable food security outcomes, wealth creation, and hunger eradication.
He also shared the ministry’s initiation of the Building a Better Tomorrow Youth Agribusiness Initiative (BBT-YAI) Program (2022-2030), aimed at promoting youth and women participation in agriculture by addressing three key challenges: access to land, capital, and markets. The program adopts a participatory approach involving the government, private sector, development partners, and other stakeholders. Mr. Mibavu invites additional partners to join in implementing this program.”
