Rice farmers in East Africa to benefit from US$3 million grant

Posted in Agriculture & Food Security

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 2^nd October, 2019: Rice farmers in East Africa are set to benefit from a US$3.1 million dollar grant to a rice sector promotion project which will be implemented over a period of three years.                               

The Competitive African Rice Initiative in East Africa (CARI-EA), which is being implemented jointly by the East African Community (EAC) and Kilimo Trust (KT) seeks to improve the rice sub-sector in the region.The project was approved for funding by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in April 2019 and is now at the initial stage of implementation.

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13th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security underway in Arusha

Posted in Agriculture & Food Security

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 23^rd September, 2019: The13^th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security is currently underway in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Sectoral Council will run from 23^rd September, 2019 to 27^th September, 2019. It is composed of three sessions which are, the Session of Senior Officials which is scheduled to be held from 23^rd to 25^th September, 2019; the Session of Permanent/Principal/Under Secretaries slated for 26^th September, 2019; and the Ministerial session on 27^th September, 2019.

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Partner States urged to work closely with stakeholders to address the high incidence of pests and diseases in the region

Posted in Agriculture & Food Security

East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 18^th September, 2019:  The EAC Deputy Secretary General in-charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, has urged EAC Partner States to work closely with the private sector and farmers associations to curb the high incidence of pests and diseases in the region.

Hon. Bazivamo underscored the fundamental linkages between agriculture, trade and agro-industry and stressed the need to strengthen these sectors.

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EAC Technical Working Group Meeting on Pilot Testing of Harmonized Pesticides Guidelines for Efficacy Trials

Posted in Agriculture & Food Security

East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 22nd March, 2019.  The EAC Deputy Secretary General in-charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo has called upon pest control product companies to take advantage of EAC harmonized system for testing and registration of pesticides.

The 38th Extra-Ordinary Council of Ministers held on 30^th January, 2019 approved the EAC pesticides management guidelines on efficacy trials, residue trials and registration requirements.  The Council further directed Partner States to domesticate them by 30th May 2020. 

The EAC harmonized system comes with a number of benefits that will translate to reduced time and costs associated with testing and registration of pest control products across EAC Partner States.  It is expected that farmers in the region will have increased access to quality, safe and affordable pesticides.

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