EAC 

Saturday, May 17, 2014 

IFAD team holds talks with Secretariat

ARUSHA, Tanzania - The EAC Secretariat wants support in improving and developing the dry lands of the Community and re-orientation of investment in agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors to support market driven systems.

In a one-day roundtable discussion with visiting International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) officials and top Secretariat staff, suggestions were made on how IFAD can engage with the EAC to support regional food trade.

IFAD is a specialised agency of the United Nations, set up as an international financial institution in 1977 as a direct outcome from the 1974 World Food Conference. 

IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. Seventy-five per cent of the world’s poorest people - 1.4 billion women, children and men - live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related activities for their livelihoods.

In attendance at the roundtable discussions were IFAD Executive Board Representative Yaya O. Olaniran, leading  a 14-person  delegation.

Others present were the acting EAC Director of Productive Sector Moses Marwa;  the Executive Secretary of Kilimo Trust, Prof. Nuhu Hatibu; and Director of Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), Ms. Jacqueline Mkindi.

Participants also talked about how to accelerate expansion of processing and value addition especially for perishable products in the region.

The roundtable discussion drew senior officers from the EAC Secretariat, who gave presentations in the areas of trade and customs, and EAC food security action plan. 

By Elisha Mayallah, Saturday, May 17th, 2014