East African Business Week (Kampala)
It is in this way that small scale farmers and business people will benefit from full EAC integration.
Speaking during an agri-business expo, organized by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) last week, Dr. Nyamajeje Weggoro said the increasing exchange of goods and services among the EAC member states would promote borderless trade within the region.
Dr. Weggoro is the EAC Director of Productive Sector. "The EAC is keen at promoting trade in the region and we want the partner states to harmonize their standards of food items in order to boost the trade in the region," he said.
He said the private sector has to be involved so that agriculture production in the region is improved for the better. This would also ensure food sufficiency in the region.
Weggoro said an abundance of food in the region is likely to improve economic growth, because this would allow farmers in the region to have access to the market throughout the region.
He said it is important to make sure transport connectivity like roads and rail networks are reliable and available.
"We need both the ICT and good road networks to link our farmers to the market," Weggoro said.
The EAGC Chairman Judah Bett, said this year's theme is 'the future of agribusiness; pathways to commercialization'. It recognizes the importance of giving small scale farmers the opportunity to turn agriculture into a profitable venture in throughout the region.
"This is an important opportunity that will make agro-industry and users of these services, the producers as well as processors and traders to exchange and compare notes on the latest technology in agri-business," Bett said.
Bett said there is need for all concerned to see the opportunity of EAC integration to make sure food security in the region is improved through cross-border trade.
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