On 21 June 2024, the Uganda chapter of the COMESA – East African Community Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA) launched in Kampala in an event that brought together representatives from the private sector, the government, and various partners, signaling a major advancement in the growth of the horticulture industry in the country and region.
Established in 2022, CEHA is a collaborative initiative created by public and private sector partners to better coordinate policy, value chain development programs, financing, and Research and Development (R&D) in the horticulture industry.
The primary aim of CEHA is to accelerate the growth of the Fruit and Vegetable (F&V) sub-sector across the COMESA and EAC regions, which includes Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda; Chapters launched this far are Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, while Ethiopia and Tanzania are lined up for launching.
Hortifresh, the Uganda CEHA Secretariat, serves as the apex association for exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables in Uganda. At the launch event, Mr. Fred Zake, Executive Director of Hortifresh, praised the initiative for uniting Uganda’s private sector fresh fruit and vegetable exporters and producers under a common goal. He emphasized the importance of collective effort in achieving the accelerator’s objectives.
Paul Mwambu, Commissioner for Crop Inspection and Certification at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in Uganda, highlighted the broader economic impact of supporting the horticulture sector.
“Backing up horticulture will lead to economic transformation through an increase in food and nutrition,” he stated, underscoring the sector’s potential to drive substantial economic and social benefits.
Mr. Steven Byantware, MAAIF Director for Crop Resources, noted the commendable efforts of the Horticulture Accelerator in boosting the growth of Uganda’s Fruit and Vegetable sub-sectors. He emphasized that such initiatives are critical for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector.
The CEHA Uganda Chapter’s mission is to enhance coordination in policy formulation, value chain development programs, financing, and R&D within the horticulture industry. This initiative aims to expedite the growth of the F&V sub-sector, ultimately contributing to the economic prosperity of the COMESA and EAC regions.
Dr. John Mukuka, Chief Executive Officer of COMESA-ACTESA, expressed optimism for the future of the horticultural industry in the region.
“The COMESA Secretariat through ACTESA is looking forward to the transformation of the horticultural industry in our region, currently valued at USD 4 billion, to double or triple in the next 10 years. CEHA will provide many opportunities for the COMESA and EAC Regions, especially for landowners with access to less than one hectare of land,” he remarked.
The launch event also included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ACTESA and Hortifresh, cementing their commitment to collaborate and drive the horticulture sector forward. This partnership is expected to facilitate the development of innovative solutions and strategies to overcome challenges and harness opportunities within the horticulture industry.
The Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA AfriCenter) to implement the COMESA Biotechnology Implementation Plan (COMBIP).
The MoU signed in Lusaka on 5 June 2024 outlines several areas where ISAAA AfriCenter and COMESA-ACTESA will work together which includes rolling out a communications strategy on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety to raise awareness and address misinformation through facilitating appropriate stakeholder engagement platforms.
They will also build capacity of media practitioners to objectively and accurately communicate biotechnology and biosafety to the general public. Other areas include supporting sharing of biosafety regulatory experiences among COMESA Member States by creating a one-stop source of biotech approvals and regulatory systems.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, COMESA-ACTESA Chief Executive Officer Dr John Mukuka said the institution is looking forward to the collaborative effort that the MoU brings as the two parties are ready to work together and implement the activities.
“We are happy about this collaboration because we believe that increased awareness and understanding of agricultural biotechnology and biosafety in the COMESA region is needed and a more informed public discourse is long overdue,” Dr Mukuka added.
ISAAA AfriCenter Director Dr Margaret Karembu described the MoU as a significant step towards achieving the goals of COMBIP, which has taken more than ten years to be developed.
“Working together with COMESA-ACTESA, we will contribute a more productive and sustainable agricultural sector by harnessing proven scientific tools,” she said.
Through the MoU, the two institutions will identify opportunities for experiential learning about new and emerging breeding innovations for ensuring agricultural competitiveness in the region. It is also expected that strategic linkages will be formulated between the private sector and research institutions to promote investment in agricultural biotechnology development.
COMBIP was developed after the endorsement of the COMESA Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy by the Council of Ministers in 2014.
COMESA-ACTESA, is a specialised agency of COMESA which works to address staple food production and boost regional agricultural trade while ISAAA AfriCenter is a non-profit organisation that empowers stakeholders with knowledge on safe use of biotechnology for agricultural advancement.
Aregional programme meant to boost the horticulture industry in five countries in eastern and southern Africa has been launched in Rwanda. The COMESA, East African Community (EAC) Horticulture Accelerator Programme (CEHA) aims to accelerate the growth of the fruit and vegetable sub-sector in these regions.
CEHA initially focuses on three priority value chains: avocado, onion and Irish potatoes. These specific value chains face agronomic, logistical and regulatory challenges that are common to many other fruit and vegetable crops. Rwanda is the second country to launch the CEHA programme following Kenya.
The programme is being implemented through the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA ACTESA) which is a specialised arm of the 21-member COMESA bloc. The CEHA program, created in 2022 through a collaboration of public and private sector partners, aims to better coordinate policy, value chain development programs, financing, research, and development. In the short term, the priority value chains are avocado, onion and Irish potato in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
At the launch of the CEHA Rwanda National Chapter in Kigali on May 23, 2024, ACTESA Chief Executive Officer Dr John Mukuka announced that the program will facilitate the modernization of regional horticulture value chains across East Africa. This will be achieved by leveraging Rwanda’s comparative advantages, infrastructure and technology. The priority crops, selected in 2022 through surveys, were based on production capacity, impact potential, market growth and value chain competitiveness, alignment with government priorities, and the degree of development partner investment.
He pointed out that the CEHA, is a game changer as its strategic priorities have been identified by the stakeholders at the national level who will them drive these priorities at the regional level. With this bottom-up structure, everyone from the public and private sector is expected to participate and enhance the development of the horticulture sector in the region.
“CEHA is a game changer, as its strategic priorities have been identified by stakeholders at the national level, who will then drive these priorities at the regional level,” he said. “With this bottom-up structure, everyone from the public and private sectors is expected to participate and enhance the development of the horticulture sector in the region,” Dr Mukuka said.
CEHA recognises the critical role of women in the horticulture value chain and aims to empower them as key drivers of progress. This will be done by enhancing their access to resources, knowledge and market opportunities, thereby unlocking new pathways to economic empowerment and gender equality.
At the national level, the CEHA programme will establish strategic horticultural production and processing clusters with agribusiness incubators throughout five targeted countries, based on unique comparative and competitive advantages.
It will also strengthen supply chains within these clusters through farmer organizations and digitalization, using a processor and/or farmer organization as the entry point to provide financing, technical assistance, and mutually beneficial contracting with farmers in collaboration with input suppliers.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Tony Kajangwe, Director in the Ministry of Commerce, appreciated the selection of Rwanda for the CEHA project, noting that the country’s horticulture industry will now receive the much-needed support to expand.
Partners from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) led by the Country Manager Mr Jean Paul Ndagijimana and USAID Kungahara Wagura Amasoko Project Ms Titianne Donde pledged their support to the local farmers and the CEHA programme.
ACTESA aims to transform the regional horticultural industry, currently valued at USD4 billion, with the goal of doubling or tripling this value within the next 10 years. CEHA will provide opportunities, especially for landowners with access to less than one hectare of land.
High-value fruits and vegetables are considered by agriculture experts to be consistently more profitable than cereals and other common stapple crops. Moreover, the demand for these products is increasing in both domestic and export markets.
Public and private sectors of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC) have joined forces to boost horticulture trade to USD25 million by 2031.
Under the COMESA-EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA) which was established in 2022 through public and private sector partnerships, and launched in June 2023, the trading blocs have marshaled plan to fast-track growth of the industry, beginning with avocado, onion and Irish potato value chains.
According to CEHA Coordinator, Mr Apollo Owuor, the primary objectives of CEHA are multifaceted, with an overarching goal of achieving a trade value of USD 25 million for fruits and vegetables within the Comesa-EAC region by 2031.
“Avocado, onion, and Irish potato can generate a combined 230 million US dollars per year for approximately 450,000 smallholder farmers of a minimum farm size of 0.4 hectare with 60 avocado trees, or 1 hectare for onion farmers,” said Owuor.
Furthermore, the initiative aims to catapult global exports from USD 416 million to an impressive USD 950 million by the same year.
The project covers five countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa – COMESA and the East African Community – EAC. These are Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Project implementation
Early this month, the trading blocs announced that the implementation of the project has begun and is expected to enhance policy coordination, value chain development, financing, and research and development in the horticulture industry.
The idea is to harmonise Comesa-EAC fragmented regulatory and standard policies, coordinate production chain, address poor storage and transportation snags for perishable crops and ensure availability of quality and sufficient seeds.
“For instance, some ports within the EAC that serve the rest of landlinked countries lack what we call green lanes to fast-track clearance of perishable goods to the overseas markets, so CEHA seeks to tackle such a challenge,” said Owuor.
The projected scenario anticipates a doubling of the volume of preserved or processed fruits and vegetables from 8 per cent in 2021 to 16 per cent by 2031.
During this period, the duration from farm to market is predicted to decrease by 50 per cent, while farm gate prices are expected to decrease by 25 per cent.
Presently valued at 4 billion US dollars, high-value fruits and vegetables consistently outperform cereals and other conventional staple crops in terms of profitability. Moreover, the demand for these products continues to surge in both domestic and export markets.
Support to farmers and processors
Under the auspices of CEHA, farmers and processors will have access to sufficient and affordable financing, and five trade-related barriers will be eliminated.
“This initiative aims to elevate the value of fresh and processed horticultural products to 500 million US dollars, consequently generating an additional 100,000 jobs across the value chains.”
Simultaneously, efforts to reduce post-harvest losses are underway, targeting a reduction from the current 40 percent to half that figure.
Forecasts indicate a 4 per cent and 3 per cent increase in yields for fruits and vegetables, respectively, while labor productivity is projected to improve by 25 per cent.
Climate-smart practices
To sustain profitability, farmers are expected to embrace climate-smart practices, such as cultivating crops resilient to anticipated shifts in local weather patterns.
“Our aim is not only to boost trade but also to uplift the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across the Comesa-EAC region,” said Owuor.
These developments are being spearheaded by officials at CEHA’s headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia.
Building the capacity of the horticultural industry across Eastern and Southern Africa is in the 2021-2031 Strategic Plan of the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialised agency of COMESA tasked to integrate smallholder farmers into domestic, regional, and international markets. On its part, the EAC also prioritises the potential for horticulture in its Fruit and Vegetable Strategy 2021- 2031.
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, through its Secretary-General, Hon. Dr. Peter M. Mathuki has endorsed its commitment and support to the COMESA EAC Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA) program. This was revealed when the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), Chief Executive Officer, Dr. John Mukuka, and CEHA staff paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretariat on 25th January 2024.
In his remarks, Hon. Dr. Peter M. Mathuki, recognized the potential impact of the CEHA initiative on the horticulture sector focusing on agricultural development to enhance household food and nutritional security.
The engaging and fruitful discussions were aimed at formalizing collaboration and partnerships toward effective implementation of the CEHA program.
And EAC Deputy Secretary-General of Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Maleah, reiterated EAC’s active participation and commitment to provide continued support to CEHA structures both at the national and regional levels.
The EAC leadership further expressed interest in aligning regional efforts and initiatives towards addressing critical issues in the horticulture sector, for increased incomes and employment opportunities, across the COMESA and EAC regions.The meeting unpacked crucial and actionable outcomes, with a spotlight on the EAC assuming the co-chairing responsibilities within the CEHA Board.
The EAC further placed paramount importance within CEHA, on advancing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, alongside bolstering efforts to ensure food security within the region. Other highlights of the meeting reflected the importance of establishing a formal communication channel and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties for efficient management of project activities. Meanwhile, CEHA Co-ordinator, Mr. Apollo Owuor, remarked that the partnership between EAC and COMESA is crucial in advancing the CEHA’s aspirations of accelerating the growth of the fruit and vegetable subsector of the COMESA and EAC regions. “We are elated with the positive response from EAC, recognizing that CEHA is a transformative initiative that will ultimately lead to enhanced climate-smart horticultural productivity, value chain development, and economic empowerment in the COMESA and EAC regions” he stated.
Mr. Aime Uwase, EAC Director of Planning, and Mr. John Patrick Mwesigye of the GFA/GIZ were in attendance at the meeting. Others included: ACTESA CEO, Dr. John Mukuka, Mr. Apollo Owuor, CEHA Regional Coordinator, and Ms. Fungwa Kabati, ACTESA Finance and Planning Officer.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a Specialized Agency of COMESA has since been co-ordinating the COMESA-EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA) following its regional Launch in June 2023. The CEHA was created in 2022 through public and private sector partnerships in better coordination of policy, value chain development programs, financing, Research, and Development (R&D) of the horticulture industry as is also reflected in the EAC’s Fruit and Vegetable Strategy 2021-2031. The initial activities of CEHA are supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), with a total budget of USD5 million, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) providing a total of GBP500,000.
The CEHA currently focuses on Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda on three horticultural crops, namely avocado, onion, and Irish Potatoes. The CEHA Secretariat will facilitate the modernization of regional horticulture value chains across East Africa, leveraging the comparative advantage, infrastructure, and technology in each country by:
The CEHA Board comprises COMESA as Chair with EAC as vice and or co-Chair with private sector membership of TWIGA Foods, Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), World Vegetable Centre, Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA), Horticulture Association of Uganda (HORTEXA), Trade Mark East Africa, Arch Emerging Markets Partners Ltd. CEHA Development Partners/donor members includes B&MGF, FCDO, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Netherland Government through Stichting Nederlandse Vrijwilligers (SNV) and European Union. Observers include the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), and World Bank.