USAID-COMPETE Partner Funding Support to EAGC Monthly Report-April 2011

The objectives of the grant included facilitating institutional strengthening, formalizing regional agricultural markets, and expanding the Regional Agricultural Trade Information Network (RATIN) into a regional market information platform. EAGC continued to deliver services to its members and stakeholders across the region, with country offices in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania fully operational. The council organized a Members' Luncheon titled "Food Security in Malawi; Progress and Challenges-A Smallholder Farmers perspective," which was attended by 54 EAGC members and partners. The EAGC Board remains the decision-making organ of the council, with the secretariat responsible to the Board on all matters related to the program. The board committees representing WRS, Private-Public Partnership, Market Information Services, and Finance and Administration held meetings to deliberate on progress in their respective components. A new board of directors was elected during the Annual General Meeting, with Mr. Judah Bett as the new EAGC Chairman. In Kenya, EAGC continued to pursue the establishment of the legal and regulatory framework for the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS). The WRS Task force received support from IFC, who provided additional legal expertise by contracting the services of a consultant from the UK. The maize deposited under the WRS scheme in Nakuru was sold in April 2011, with smallholder farmers able to sell maize at a higher price and pay back their loans. EAGC in Uganda has continued to play a role in promoting the WRS, with the council identifying MASSGA warehouse in Masindi as a warehouse to work with in promoting WRS. EAGC will sensitize farmers and traders on post-harvest handling and storage, bulking and collective marketing, and EAC grain quality standards to increase the volume of grain deposited under WRS. The Regional Agricultural Trade Information Network (RATIN) continued to provide market information through its website, with daily price information for maize, sorghum, millet, beans, and rice commodities. A total of 18 markets were monitored, with cross-border flow data for 5 border points uploaded on the RATIN website on a monthly basis. EAGC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Farm-Gain to code share the SMS Commodity Market Information facility in Uganda, ensuring consistent information flow and coverage of up to 10 districts within Uganda. The SMS facility code 8000 in Kenya has been functional throughout the period, while Tanzania code experienced problems and various options are being pursued to address the issue. The preparation for the 9th Annual Agribusiness Fair 2011 in Kenya is underway, with the fair jointly organized with CGA and Rift Valley Institute of Science & Technology (RVIST) to be held on 28th-29th July 2011 in Nakuru. The fair's theme is "ENHANCING RETURNS ON AGRI-BUSINESS INVESTMENT; OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES."