East African Community’s special rice desk goes into operation as countries adopt Agri-Food Systems

Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Food Security from the East African Community have adopted a series of strategic measures aimed at strengthening regional food security and promoting sustainable agri-food systems.

The decisions were reached during the 19th Session of the Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security (SCAFS) held in Dar es Salaam, which brought together Ministers, senior government officials, development partners, and representatives of the EAC Secretariat to review progress and address emerging challenges in the agricultural sector.

An agri-food system is the interconnected network of activities, actors, and resources involved in producing, processing, distributing, consuming, and disposing of food and agricultural products, encompassing both food and non-food commodities.

To support long-term agricultural development, the Council adopted the EAC Regional Agri-Food Systems Investment Plan (RASIP) 2026–2035, calling for increased investments in agricultural infrastructure, climate resilience, digital technologies, agricultural financing, and cross-border trade.

To enhance regional competitiveness, the Ministers approved measures to strengthen the implementation of the EAC Rice Development Strategy.

This is including the support for the newly operationalized EAC Rice Desk, promotion of mechanization, improvement of seed systems, increased private sector participation, and the reduction of non-tariff barriers affecting rice trade.

The SCAFS also endorsed the establishment of the Youth in Agri-Food Systems in East Africa (YASE) Platform and welcomed progress in developing the EAC Youth in Agribusiness Portal, initiatives designed to promote youth participation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities within the agricultural sector.

In a further step towards strengthening agricultural productivity and trade, Ministers adopted several key regulatory and policy instruments, including Standard Operating Procedures for Crop Inspection; EAC Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment Manuals; and the EAC Strategy for the Management of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (2026–2036).

The SCAFS also noted significant progress under the Sustainable Regional Agricultural Extension (ENSURE) Project, which seeks to modernize and strengthen agricultural extension services throughout the region.

The Chairperson of the Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security, who’s also Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, commended the region’s achievements in the production of key staple crops, including maize, bananas, Irish potatoes, and sweet potatoes.

He emphasized the need for increased investments in food security, irrigation, mechanization, seed systems, market access, and strengthened agricultural data coordination.

Hon. Tumwebaze further urged EAC Partner States to align their national agricultural investment plans with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration (2026–2035) to fast-track agricultural transformation across the region.

In his opening remarks, the EAC Deputy Secretary General responsible for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political sectors., Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth underscored the importance of enhancing agricultural productivity through greater investment in value addition, mechanization, digitalization, access to quality inputs and finance, and expanded market opportunities.

He also highlighted progress made by the EAC Secretariat in implementing regional programmes related to CAADP, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, rice development, farm inputs, agricultural extension services, and livestock development, despite prevailing resource constraints.

The meeting reviewed the Regional Food Security Report, which indicated continued growth in agricultural production and food surpluses for most staple crops across the region. However, the report also identified persistent deficits in wheat and oil production.

In response, Ministers directed Partner States to strengthen food security data systems and harmonize regional reporting frameworks to enhance planning and decision-making.

In the livestock sector, Ministers adopted the EAC Guideline on Sharing Epidemiological Information on Transboundary Animal Diseases and Zoonoses and the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Control Strategic Framework for Eastern Africa (2026–2035).

Additional guidelines on veterinary medicines regulation and ectoparasiticide labelling were approved to enhance animal health management and facilitate regional livestock trade.

The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to regional cooperation and agricultural transformation, emphasizing that successful implementation of the SCAFS decisions will require strong collaboration among Partner States, development partners, the private sector, and regional institutions.

The SCAFS also commended development partners, including AGRA, the African Development Bank (AfDB), JICA, FAO, GALVmed, and TradeMark Africa, for their continued support to the EAC agricultural development agenda.

Other key dignitaries in attendance were: Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, CBS, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of East African Affairs, ASALs and Regional Development, Republic of Kenya; Dr. Clement Juma Mbugoniwia, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Republic of South Sudan; Hon. David Ernest Silinde, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, United Republic of Tanzania; Dr. Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Republic of Rwanda; Emmanuel Niyungeko, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Republic of Burundi and H.E. Jean Pierre Massala, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Republic of Tanzania.