East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 28th March 2022: The 15th Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security (SCAFS) concluded on Friday 25th March 2022 at the Four Points by Sheraton in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.
The 5-day meeting was convened to consider matters related to EAC regional food and nutrition security; progress in the implementation of previous council and sectoral council directives; implementation of the EAC CAADP programme; harmonization of farm inputs; livestock, fisheries and aquaculture development; and resource mobilization to support Agriculture Interventions among others.
Addressing the Ministers at the opening session, the EAC Deputy Secretary General – Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo reiterated the commitment of the EAC towards creating an enabling environment for development of the agricultural sector in the region, particularly catalyzing increased agricultural production, and productivity to achieve nutrition and food security, enhancing performances of agricultural value chains and agribusinesses as well as promoting regional and international trade of agricultural produce the processed agriculture commodities.
Hon Bazivamo noted with concern the risk of the Partner States not doing enough to reduce post-harvest losses which currently stand at 61% as a result of lack of strategies to sustain the preservation of harvest, which he noted as an important focus for the region.
On budget allocation of the agriculture to EAC Secretariat, the Deputy Secretary General challenged the Partner States to review the current budget allocation to the department of Agriculture and food Security “On behalf of EAC Secretariat let me take this opportunity to request the Council of Ministers to consider increasing the budget allocated to the agriculture sector towards fulfilment of CAADP/Malabo commitments”
All the Ministers expressed their commitment to work together as a block, to harmonize approaches towards boosting agricultural productivity and food security in the region. The Ministers noted that a deliberate investment on capacity building of various agricultural structures is required in the region towards enhancement of better practices, exploration of existing natural potential in the region.
The Ministerial session was attended by Hon. Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana – Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources – Republic of Rwanda, Hon. Mashimba Ndaki - Minister of Livestock and Fisheries – United Republic of Tanzania, who was accompanied by Hon. Anthony Mavunde – Deputy Minister Agriculture; Hon. Lily Albino Akol Akol, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security – Republic of South Sudan and Hon. Hellen Adoa, Deputy Minister, State Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – Republic of Uganda.
In addition, Kenya Principal Secretary State Department for Fisheries, Aquaculture & the Blue Economy. Dr. Francis O. Owino, PhD, CBS and Mr Emmanuel Ndorimana, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock Republic of Burundi represented their respective Ministers at this Ministerial session.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001: 2015 Certified