EAC to increase production through technology, packaging techniques
The East African Community Deputy Secretary-General in charge of the productive and social sectors, Christophe Bazivamo, has said there are plans to reverse poor yields through better storage and processing technologies and packaging techniques.
The statement shared by the community on its website states that the EAC incurs losses in food products after harvest with 30 per cent in cereals, 50 per cent in roots and tubers, and 70 per cent in fruits and vegetables.
Christophe said that embracing packaging and processing technologies and packaging techniques would help in the realisation of the regional development objectives, food security and high earnings for farmers and SMEs.
“In our recently adopted fruit and vegetable strategy and post-harvest loss management action plan, we aim to unlock this potential by, among other things, pursuing best practises in contract farming, productivity, inputs; utilisation of modern and new technologies, and capacity building,” said Bazivamo.
The deputy secretary-general noted that the community was eager to improve agro-specific infrastructures like collection centres, sorting, packing, pack houses, cold storage, refrigeration tanks, cold rooms, processing machinery, and ocean and air freight services, among others, to reduce post-harvest losses.
“Agriculture has the potential to completely transform our region, fully feed us, and improve our economic welfare. We are yet to unlock the full potential of the sector, but we are growing as a region and as a continent, “Bazivamo said.
Arusha Regional Commissioner urged banks and the private sector to invest in agriculture for the community to achieve food security.
The Ambassador of Germany to Tanzania and the EAC, Regine Hess, urged the EAC to organise more trade fairs geared towards strengthening the economy so that producers and innovators could reach the international markets. She pledged Germany’s support for the EAC trade fairs.
Regional integration
The Secretary-General of the East African Community (EAC), Dr. Peter Mathuki, stated that the community had massive plans to strengthen regional integration in 2022.
Dr. Mathuki noted that the community would embrace Intra-EAC trade, ease mobility of persons, goods and services in the region, widen markets and promote peace and security.
“A new year offers us a new chapter to hit the reset button, craft a new course for our prosperity, and build back better. Despite a challenging and tumultuous 2021, we remained resilient and committed in our quest to widen and deepen economic, political, social and cultural integration to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa,” Dr. Mathuki said.
