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The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) -Eastern Africa Community (EAC) Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA) has been launched to facilitate the modernisation, market access and growth of the regional horticulture value chains.
The programme has received support of US$5 million from the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation (BMGF), which will run from June 1, 2023 to May 30, 2028.
A complimentary funding from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of £500,000 is available.
Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) Chief Executive Officer, John Mukuka, said programme would start with focusing on three crops onions, avocado and Irish potatoes.
Mukuka said this at the launch of CEHA during the 16th COMESA business forum which was held under the theme economic integration for a thriving COMESA anchored on green investment, value addition and tourism recently in Lusaka.
The initiative will leverage on the comparative advantage, infrastructure and technology for maximum impact.
“Our job is all about working with private sector in enhancing the agricultural industry within COMESA member states .ACTESA is specialised in the support of the agriculture sector. This programme we are launching today focuses on three crops avocado, onions and Irish potatoes which were selected last year after a survey.
“Implemented of CEHA has been prompted by among others things such as the low daily intake of fruits and vegetables compared to the recommended four servings per day,” he said.
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Mukuka also said CEHA board had already been established and two board meetings held so far.
He said the vision of the programme is that by 2031, climate smart horticulture value chains would be a significant contributor to income growth, inclusive job creation and improved nutrition throughout Eastern Africa.
Mukuka said by 2031 the initiative aims to ensure that people in the region have a minimum of four servings of fruits and vegetables per day so that they can remain health.
He said the implementation of the programme will also help increase the area under improved production.
“We need to improve productivity so that the area under production does not matter and encourage value addition for the agriculture food industry within the COMESA member states to increase,” Mukuka said.
He said other crops such as tomatoes may be included in future depending on the progress on the current three.
On the strategic focus, Mukuka said it aims to coordinate investments that are primarily private sector enabled and donor catalysed into production and processing clusters in support of the EAC, COMESA and individual country horticulture strategies.
He said others focus areas are facilitate policy and standards harmonisation to stimulate trade and market access across the region for multiple regional fruit and vegetable value chains.
Mukuka said through the programme the ACTESA would focus on facilitating access to both working capital and capex finance as well as technical assistance to processors, farmers and other agribusinesses across the value chain.
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