For the East African Community (EAC), supporting regional agriculture is a key aspect for the region’s development. Therefore, the EAC has developed and adopted the “EAC Fruits and Vegetables (F&V) Value Chain Strategy and Action Plan, 2021-2031”. It aims at providing a regional roadmap to steer the development of the fruits and vegetables sub-sector and supports targets set in the agriculture and industrialisation policies of the EAC.
In line with this strategy the EAC supported the first Tanzania International Food and Agriculture Expo (Tanz-Food). The Expo took place from 11th to 13th March 2022 in Arusha, Tanzania and attracted over 120 exhibitors, business-to-business buyers and visitors from across East Africa and beyond.
EAC and GIZ leveraged the opportunity to showcase achievements in the food and agriculture sector, specifically the fruits and vegetables industry. Additionally, exhibitors from all six EAC Partner States were invited to join the EAC tent and pitch their products to the larger agricultural community and international as well as East African agro-business experts.
“The EAC region targets to reduce agricultural produce post-harvest losses from the current 40 percent to at least 20 percent. The EAC Fruits and Vegetables Strategy identifies food & agriculture fairs as a critical component to enhancing the agricultural value chain in the region,” noted Hon Christophe Bazivamo, EAC Deputy Secretary General of Productive and Social Sectors, during the opening ceremony.
SEAMPEC works closely with the EAC Secretariat to support the promotion of agriculture and food security. In her opening remarks, Godje Bialluch, SEAMPEC Programme Manager stressed, “GIZ is committed to supporting the EAC and its Partner States in ensuring food security and safety for all citizens as well as to building agriculture and agro-processing value chains that are sustainable and able to play a significant role, not only at national level but especially in the context of intra-regional and international trade”.
More information on current activities by EAC and GIZ in the agriculture sector can be found here.