Agricultural investment blueprint on the cards

Arusha. The East African Community (EAC) has started working on a major investment plan in the agricultural sector through the support of a range of development partners that would help improve the livelihoods of millions of people.

"The process leading to the validation of regional agricultural investment plan (RAIP) has been lengthy, rigorous, inclusive and consultative," said the EAC deputy secretary general in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Mr Christophe Bazivamo in Kampala on Friday, December 1.

Speaking at the commencement of the three-day talks on revamping the sector within the framework of EAC Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the deputy SG said the programme is anchored to increase agricultural productivity.

CAADP, whose agenda is also anchored on the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation made by the African Union (AU) leaders two years ago, specifically aims to end hunger and poverty in the continent and EAC in particular.

"The investment plan (RAIP) is designed to facilitate coordination of regional and cross-cutting programmes that are best handled regionally and those that compliment interventions in the national agriculture investment plans," he pointed out.

Officials at the workshop included representatives of the EAC partner states', Usaid East Africa as well as Usaid Trade and Investment Hub, the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (Asareca), East African Business Council (EABC), Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) and the East African Civil Society Organization Forum (EACSOF), among others. 

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Mr Bazivamo could not say when the investments would be rolled out but insisted it would not deviated from increasing regional agricultural production and food supply as  formulated in the CAADP goals.

Other key areas include promoting agribusiness, value addition and agro-industry as well as strengthening capacities of EAC regional agricultural institutions through introduction of appropriate technologies to boost farm yields.

It emerged during the talks at a Kampala hotel that among the commitments that occupy a central place in the EAC integration process was commitment to end hunger in the region by 2015 and hence boost intra-African trade in agricultural commodities and services.

Early this year, the bloc appended signature to the  EAC Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Compact.

The Compact is designed to facilitate coordination of regional and cross cutting programmes that complement agricultural programmes and projects at national and regional levels.

The programme  details regional development priorities and defines actions, commitments and partnerships required to achieve agricultural transformation in line with the CAADP goals and targets.