African Farm

COMESA announced the creation of the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), which should help farmers to address their problems during rough times.

During the second congress of the East African Farmers’ Federation (EAFF) in Arusha, Tanzania the creation of  ACTESA was hailed as the most significant development in regional agriculture in 2009.

The EAFF highlights that farmers in the region have long required a focused initiative that would comprehensively address their market development needs.

“We need markets as producers but sometimes when our crops fail we need support – we see ACTESA as designed to meet these challenges.  We welcome ACTESA and we will work with it all the way,” the EAFF president stated.

The 2nd EAFF Congress was officially opened by Tanzanian Deputy Minister for East African Cooperation Honourable Mohamed Aboud, and the Congress brought together over 200 representatives of farmers’ organizations in the East African region to map strategies for the agricultural sector in East Africa over the next 2 years.

Newly appointed ACTESA Chief Executive Officer Cris Muyunda, during his address to the congress highlighted that ACTESA priorities over the next year included capacity building of farmer organizations, promoting of sustainable public – private partnerships in input supply and crop marketing and supporting modern instruments in structured agricultural trade. 

Other dignitaries at the Congress included ASARECA Executive Director Seyfu Ketema, and senior officials of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

In its resolutions, the congress urged COMESA, EAC and Member States to put in place a strong early warning mechanism for potential food shortfalls in the region, carefully examine the tax regime affecting agriculture in the region, fully consult farmers before concluding international trade agreements and deal with all security issues affecting farmers in the region, particularly those in the DRC.

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