USAID-COMPETE Partner Funding Support to EAGC Monthly Report January 2012

The objectives of the grant are multifaceted, focusing on institutional strengthening, formalizing regional agricultural markets, expanding the Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network (RATIN) into a regional market information platform, and promoting regional trade and food security. EAGC offices in Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya were operationalized through the funding, and the organization intensified its membership recruitment drive. One miller, Mama Miller Ltd in Kenya, was recruited in January 2012, increasing EAGC membership to 95. The Structured Trading Systems (STS) Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop was conducted in Nakuru, Kenya, from January 12-13, 2012. Twenty-seven officers from Cereal Growers Association and Kenya National Federation of Agricultural producers were trained on post-harvest management, grain standards and grading, grain handling, warehousing and storage, trading contracts, market information sourcing, and warehouse receipt systems. The RATIN website overhaul process was ongoing, with the core system development fully completed. The remaining components, including user interfaces, maps, and reports management system, were approximately 95% complete and expected to be completed within two weeks. Testing had begun, and application phone training was scheduled for the week. EAGC conducted a market survey in Uganda to expand RATIN coverage in the region and engaged monitors in various markets and border points across the region. The Annual Agribusiness Fair 2012 was being prepared, with the theme "Promoting Agribusiness for Economic Development Prosperity." The fair was scheduled to take place in Arusha, Tanzania, on June 8-9, 2012, and in Lira, Uganda, on June 21-22, 2012. Upcoming activities included the 2nd STS TOT Workshop in Uganda on February 27-28, 2012, and in Rwanda on March 1-2, 2012, as well as monitor's training to equip monitors with more skills in the revamped RATIN, scheduled for March 12-14, 2012.