The Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialized Agency of COMESA led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Mukuka, had the pleasure of hosting ISAAA AfriCenter, represented by ISAAA Director, Dr Margret Karembu, along with the ISAAA Board Members at the COMESA Secretariat on 25th August 2025. The strategic engagement focused on advancing shared aspirations and objectives of driving sustainable agriculture in the region. Some key highlights of the meeting included;
Together, we are taking bold steps toward advancing biotechnology and biosafety in the region to promote increased global and regional trade in genetically modified agriculture products.
The COMESA-EAC Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA), in collaboration with the East African Community (EAC), held a collaborative and transformative Regional Forum on the Market Information System (MIS) and the Regional Food Balance Sheet (RFBS) in ARUSHA, Tanzania, on 20th and 21 August 2025.
The regional Forum aligns with CEHA’s vision of supporting the development and adoption of a regional MIS platform integrated into the Regional Food Balance Sheet (RFBS), a multi-country framework for tracking production, consumption, trade flows, and food security indicators across the region.
Keynote speeches delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Gerald Mweli, Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa, Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Mukuka, EAC Acting Director, Productive Sectors, Mr Simon Kiarie, Alliance for a Green Revolution Regional Program Officer, Food Trade in East and Southern Africa, Solomon Baregu, Tanzania Horticulture Association, Chief Development Manager, Anthony Chimanga, underscored the following;
The collaborative platform brought together strategic partners, including experts in MIS and RFBS from the Ministries of Agriculture, trade, and the National Bureau of Statistics in the CEHA Target countries of Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda. Other Partners included COLEAD and GIZ.
The Regional Forum marks a key step towards realising the COMESA and EAC aspiration of boosting farmer incomes, stabilizing food supply chains, and enhancing regional horticulture food security systems in the COMESA and EAC regions.
We are thrilled with the collaborative and production engagements with our collaborating partners, the East African Community, GIZ, and the Tanzania Horticulture Association, held on August 19TH, 2025, in Arusha, Tanzania, on the sidelines of the COMESA-EAC Horticultural Accelerator Regional CEHA Market Information System (MIS) Forum. Key highlights of the discussions included reflections on challenges and opportunities affecting the horticulture landscape of the EAC and COMESA region, such as trade facilitation, production capacity, market access, and access to finance. The engagement underscored the need for accelerating the commercial integration of East African and COMESA horticultural value chains into national, regional, and international markets to promote and enhance trade and market opportunities. Other key highlights of the meeting included;
The meeting reflected a shared dedication to developing the regional horticulture sector and provided a valuable opportunity for CEHA to engage with its strategic partners.
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CEHA remains enthusiastic about accelerating the growth of the regional horticulture sector and is keen to leverage this partnership to collectively drive the transformation of the Fruit and Vegetable Sub-sector in our region through the COMESA-EAC Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA).
To enhance the national, regional, and global competitiveness of the horticulture sector in the COMESA EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA) target countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, CEHA has unveiled its Cluster Development Programme (CDP). The cluster program is crucial in enhancing the capacities of value chain actors in the avocado, onion, and Irish potato sectors. The clusters will provide growth and development opportunities to stakeholders, including farmers/producers, traders, aggregators, agribusiness enterprises, logistic players, retailers, processors, exporters, and other public and private operators.
To fast-track the process of establishing and strengthening horticultural production clusters in the areas of operation, CEHA recently onboarded consultants to coordinate the process of establishing clusters in close partnership with the respective CEHA National Chapters. This will be achieved through site validation, business case development, and stakeholder capacity building. The key highlights of crucial outcomes to strengthen the horticulture sector in the CEHA target countries will include;
Horticulture cluster is a regional/geographical concentration of targeted horticulture crops, offering scope for specialization in pre-production, production, post-harvest management, logistics, marketing, and branding.
Currently valued at USD 4 billion, to double or triple in the next 10 years, the Bill Foundation-funded project program was created in 2022 through public and private sector partners to better coordinate policy, value chain development programs, financing, research, and development. The project aims to accelerate the growth of the fruit and vegetable subsector of the COMESA and EAC regions.
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Horticulture offers significant potential for economic growth, including increases in rural incomes and employment opportunities, across the COMESA and EAC regions. The horticulture sub-sector also offers significant potential for improving the financial agency of women, given the high proportion of women who work in the sub-sector along the value chain, from farming to processing and marketing.
Given this potential, the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a Specialized Agency of COMESA has prioritized building the capacity of the horticulture sub-sector across the COMESA and EAC regions. Through its program, the COMESA-EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA), ACTESA aims to complement the implementation of the Fruit and Vegetable (F&V) sub-sector of the COMESA and EAC Regions. Valued at USD4 billion to double or triple in the next 10 years, CEHA’s priority value chains over the short term are avocado, onion, and Irish potato in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
To support innovative agribusiness projects that contribute to the improvement of farming household incomes, rural economic development, and gender equity via horticultural value chains across the region, the CEHA project will see seven vibrant agribusiness cooperatives and associations receive up to 100,000 US dollars Gates foundation funded matching grants by August 2025, with each grantee contributing a matching amount to complement the CEHA grant. The cooperatives and associations will implement various initiatives aimed at scaling up horticulture value chains over a period of 24 months.
CEHA is keen to transform the horticultural industry in the COMESA and EAC region to create the growth and sustainability of horticultural value chains. The CEHA project underscores the need for accelerating commercial integration of East and Southern Africa horticultural value chains into national, regional, and international markets to promote the growth of horticultural markets, to contribute to enhanced climate-smart horticultural productivity, value chain development, and economic empowerment, and increased gender-inclusive rural income growth and employment creation.
By ACTESA Communication Specialist
The horticulture sector remains a pillar of economic growth, supporting farmers, SMEs, and agribusinesses across COMESA and EAC Member States. Nonetheless, research suggests that NTBs continue to hinder seamless trade, limiting market access and the movement of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), which include divergent Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, varying input certification requirements, inconsistent quality standards, and inefficient border procedures, continue to constrain cross-border trade. Critical to unlocking the full potential of regional agricultural markets and improving food system resilience is the elimination of NTBs to enhance regional agricultural trade.
As part of its efforts to strengthen regional agricultural trade affecting staples, agricultural inputs, and horticultural value chains within the COMESA region, the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) Secretariat, convened a meeting on the identification of key NTBs and the development of a roadmap for harmonization of the NTBs in Nairobi, Kenya, on the 19th and 20th of June 2025.
The meeting was officially opened by Ms Regina Ombam, Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, represented by Ms Caroline Chore Senior Trade Development Officer, who underscored the relevance of seamless horticulture cross-border trade, collective commitment, policy coordination, and targeted interventions to ensure the elimination of NTBS and accelerate horticultural trade across Eastern and Southern Africa.
“The horticulture sector is a key driver of economic development, supporting farmers, SMEs, and agribusinesses across COMESA and EAC member states. However, persistent NTBs continue to limit market access and the seamless movement of horticultural products.
“Fragmented markets and regulatory inconsistencies continue to limit the movement of goods and stifle opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses. NTBs are a major obstacle to regional trade, agricultural productivity, and economic growth. Addressing such barriers would, therefore, help increase regional trade in horticultural products,” she said.
ACTESA Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Mukuka, remarked that the elimination of NTBs affecting horticultural value chains is of critical importance to regional trade, agricultural productivity, and economic prosperity. He further highlighted that ACTESA’s goal is to raise intra-regional agricultural trade from the current 10–15% to over 50% in line with the COMESA-EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA).
‘’Harmonised SPS standards, input protocols, and pest control regulations are essential for unlocking agricultural trade across the region. Harmonisation will enable farmers and exporters to access regional and international markets more efficiently, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve the profitability of horticultural value chains,” said Dr. Mukuka.
TradeMark Africa’s Director of Trade and Customs, Bendict Musengele, noted that while over 90% of reported NTBs are resolved, trade volumes have remained stagnant.
“We must address informal and unreported barriers while building productive capacity,” he said.
Alliance for a Green Revolution and the GIZ, represented by Wubeneh and Nega, and Katharina Stumpf, respectively, expressed their commitment to supporting the growth of the Horticulture Sector in the COMESA and EAC region for increased intra-regional trade in horticulture products.
The meeting drew participation from horticulture stakeholders in the CEHA target countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, all committed to transforming the vast potential of the horticulture sector within its region.
The stakeholders called for accelerated policy coordination, public-private collaboration, and a clear roadmap for eliminating NTBs to boost regional food trade and position Eastern and Southern Africa as competitive players in global agricultural markets.
The meeting closed on a high note with the development of actionable priority actions and a strategic road map for eliminating and addressing NTBs in the COMESA and EAC region.
Spearheaded by the ACTESA Secretariat, CEHA seeks to enhance sustainable development in the sector, focusing on potatoes, avocados, and onions as the priority value chains based on their production capacity and economic growth potential.
Currently valued at USD 4 billion, to double or triple in the next 10 years, the CEHA program was created in 2022 through public and private sector partners to better coordinate policy, value chain development programs, financing, research, and development. The project aims to accelerate the growth of the fruit and vegetable subsector of the COMESA and EAC regions.
By ACTESA Communication Specialist.
COMESA, through its Specialised Agency, the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), launched the Regional Seed Certification and Labelling System in its efforts to combat counterfeit seed, improve access to quality, and boost regional agricultural trade.
ACTESA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. John Mukuka, flanked by Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, represented by Dr Kenneth Msisika, Director, Plant Quarantine, and Phytosanitary Services, were honored to grace the launch on June 26th, 2025, at Ciela Resort in Lusaka, Zambia.
Dr Kenneth Msiska highlighted that the COMESA Regional Labels are key in monitoring the transparent free movement of seeds within the COMESA region and crucial to ensuring increased seed production, reliability and competitiveness of the seed industry in the COMESA region.
ACTESA CEO, Dr John Mukuka, remarked that the COMESA Regional Certificates and labels are poised to expedite the Seed export and imports by the COMESA Member States, thereby facilitating the seamless flow of seeds in the region.
Delegation of the European Commission to Zambia representative, Christiane Haziyo, remarked that the launch of the Regional Seed Certification and Labelling System is a strategic step toward unlocking regional seed trade, reducing costs for producers, and ensuring that the millions of smallholder farmers across COMESA have access to high-quality seed.
African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) Secretary General, Yacouba Diallo, urged continued engagement with seed companies to prioritise quality and compliance.
The launch of the COMESA Regional Seed Certification and Labelling System is a milestone marking towards ensuring increased regional seed production and intra-agriculture trade in the COMESA region.
The programme is supported by the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP), funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).
In Summary
Efforts to enhance horticultural trade in Eastern and Southern Africa have gained momentum as regional leaders commit to eliminating non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that continue to hinder cross-border trade in fresh and processed fruits and vegetables.
The Principal Secretary for Trade, Regina Ombam, has called for urgent action to identify and harmonise NTBs that are stifling horticultural trade across the region.
Speaking during the COMESA-EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA) Regional Workshop in Nairobi, through a speech read on her behalf by Caroline Chore – Senior Trade Development Officer at the Ministry of Industry – Trade and Industry PS Juma Mukhwana said NTBs are a major obstacle to regional trade, agricultural productivity, and economic growth.
“The horticulture sector is a key driver of economic development, supporting farmers, SMEs, and agribusinesses across COMESA and EAC member states,” he said.
“However, persistent NTBs continue to limit market access and the seamless movement of horticultural products.”
Juma warned that, if not addressed in a structured and coordinated manner, these barriers would continue to fragment regional markets, undermine productivity, and slow regional integration.
The CEHA workshop brings together key players in the sector to map out pressing NTBs, identify challenges along the value chain, and foster dialogue among policymakers, regulators, and producers.
The meeting also aims to build capacity for compliance with trade facilitation protocols and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.
“By fostering cooperation among national and regional stakeholders, we can create a more harmonised trade environment that allows farmers and agribusinesses to thrive,” Ombam said.
“Let us seize this opportunity to accelerate trade facilitation and build a more competitive and integrated horticulture industry in the region.”
Dr John Mukuka, CEO of the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), said that despite agriculture’s immense potential, intra-regional trade remains slow and fragmented largely due to NTBs.
“One of the key culprits is non-tariff barriers. These are the hidden forces that delay trucks, inflate costs, and erode farmers’ incomes,” he said.
Mukuka pointed to statistics showing that intra-COMESA exports dropped by 11 per cent in 2020—from Sh1.4 trillion (USD 10.9 billion) to Sh1.25 trillion (USD 9.7 billion)—with NTBs playing a major role in the decline.
“Across the EAC, 256 NTBs were reported. While 95 percent had been resolved by mid-2022, traders still face lengthy delays, spending anywhere from 2 to 296 hours on compliance. A 10 per cent increase in paperwork time can reduce exports by an equal margin,” he explained.
He emphasised the need to harmonise SPS standards and NTBs, especially for key horticultural products such as avocados, Irish potatoes, and onions.
“Our goal is to ensure that farmers and agribusinesses can trade seamlessly within the COMESA region, without being held back by unnecessary barriers,” Mukuka said.
“These are perishable products. Any delay due to NTBs or SPS issues risks losses, and this must be addressed urgently.”
According to Mukuka, harmonisation efforts will cover seed and input requirements, pest and disease control protocols, and the use of approved agricultural chemicals.
“This will protect both farmers and consumers, and boost profitability in the fruit and vegetable sector,” he said.
He added that ACTESA is working towards completing the harmonisation process within the next six to 12 months.
Mukuka also stressed the importance of boosting intra-regional trade before expanding to international markets.
“Our regional trade currently stands at just 10 to 15 per cent, compared to over 50 percent among EU member states,” he said.
“We must strengthen trade within Africa first before tapping into global markets like the EU or China.”
Insights from Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh, Principal Secretary of Kenya’s State Department for Agriculture, emphasizing the importance of quality seed in boosting productivity, resilience, and food security. Calls from industry leaders like Dr. John Mukuka, CEO of the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa, to adopt modern seed production techniques, embrace biotechnology, and strengthen regulatory frameworks. Remarks from Mshuka Kamwela, European Development Fund Programme Manager, highlighting this gathering as a milestone in ACTESA’s efforts to enhance seed trade and agricultural transformation.Harmonization of seed policies and regulations has been termed a key ingredient in enhancing seed production, reliability, and trade including increasing the competitiveness of the seed industry.
To expedite the process, The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), through its Specialized Agency, the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) has put in place the COMESA Seed Trade Harmonization Regulations.
ACTESA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr John Mukuka said that according to the COMESA statistics, out of the 90 million smallholder farmers in the COMESA region, only 20 percent have access to quality and improved seeds.
Speaking in Nairobi during the regional COMESA Seed Harmonization Plan (COMSHIP), Dr Mukuka said that about 130 million people out of a total of 610 million COMESA population remain food insecure and experience chronic poverty and hunger.
“The potential of the total seed market in the COMESA region is at 2 million (Metric Tons) MT of quality and improved seed; however, the region is currently producing and accessing less than 500,000 MT of quality and improved seed. This is equivalent to 2 percent of the global seed production and value,” said Dr Mukuka.
He explained that the above challenge is attributed to the fact that the regional seed market is still fragmented into small national markets, and each country operates its seed policies and regulations differently from other COMESA Member States.
“Seed companies therefore enter each of the national seed markets separately and individually. This is not only costly for the seed companies but also results in prolonged delays before seeds of good quality can find their way to the small-scale farmers,” he disclosed.
In view of the above challenge, Dr Mukuka said that they have put in place the COMESA Seed Trade Harmonization Regulations.
“To expedite implementation of the regulations both at the national and regional levels, the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP), funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), is currently under implementation,” said Dr. Mukuka.
He noted that progress has been made on COMSHIP since 2015 and so far, 119 varieties have been registered from 20 seed companies and CGIAR centres in the COMESA Region in line with COMSHIP.
“Seed companies are now able to commercialize their seed without the two to three years required before commercialization,” he said.
Dr Mukuka added that the COMESA Seed Trade Harmonization Regulations have been officially gazetted in 11 COMESA Member States, namely, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Malawi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, with DR Congo earmarked for the official gazette of the COMESA Seed Trade Harmonization Regulations end of May 2025.
He disclosed that COMSHIP Standard Operating Procedures for 13 COMESA Staple Food Crops of Barley, beans, sorghum, wheat, maize, cassava, irish potatoes, groundnuts, soybeans, sunflower, cotton, rice, and pearl millet are in place with the support of EU-RECAMP and AGRA.
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Managing Director Prof Theophilus Mutui said that seeds are the foundation of the entire farming ecosystem and therefore, high-quality, certified seeds are essential to achieving optimal yields, resilient crops, and sustainable farming practices.
In a speech read on his behalf by KEPHIS Ag. Director Laboratory Services Ms. Florence Munguti, Prof Mutui said: “Over the years, KEPHIS has worked diligently to develop robust regulatory frameworks, quality assurance systems, and certification procedures for seeds produced, tested, and distributed across our country.”
He stated that KEPHIS participated from inception at the COMESA Regional Seed harmonization and the regional validation of the COMESA Seed Harmonization Implementation Programme in May 2015.
“COMESA Regional Seed Labels were developed through a software by Mpedigree that was initially used by KEPHIS. In this regard, KEPHIS is happy to use the COMESA Regional Seed Labels based on the COMESA Seed Trade Harmonization Regulations,” he said.
He explained that the label has features showing the species, variety, lot number, test certificate number, and date of test. In addition, the COMESA Regional certificate has logos of the country of the seed produced and COMESA, including Seed Treatment and COMESA declaration.
COMESA European Development Fund (EDF) Programme Manager Mshuka Kamwela said that with the financial support of the European Union through the 11th EDF Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP), support has been provided to raise awareness, build institutional capacity, and assist Member States in aligning their national seed laws with COMESA Seed Trade Harmonisation Regulations.
“This validation workshop is a testament to the commitment of all Member States and stakeholders in strengthening regional seed trade, improving access to quality seed for smallholder farmers, and enhancing food security and agricultural transformation in the COMESA region,” said Kamwela.