EAC and Agriculture & Food Security
Agriculture is one of East Africa’s most important sectors with about 80% of the region’s population living in rural areas and depending on agriculture for their livelihood. The agricultural sector is dominated by smallholder mixed farming of livestock, food crops, cash crops, fishing and aquaculture. It includes people working together across all agricultural levels, from cross-border traders and SMEs to government policymakers and international exporters. EAC-Germany support to EAC integration in this sector focuses on enhancing agricultural development through promoting inclusive and integrated agro-processing value chains, with a special focus on private sector involvement and improved framework conditions, including quality infrastructure, standards and customs procedures. Projects target key sectors like coffee and tea for a range of training and mentoring, aiming for higher quality, better marketing and higher incomes from a growing agro-processing sector.
The German Government supports this EAC Sector under Core Area 1 of EAC-Germany cooperation as defined by BMZ 2030 – “Sustainable Economic Development, Training and Employment” in the Intervention Area of “Socially and Environmentally Sound Supply Chains, Trade and Sustainable Infrastructure." The cooperation directly contributes to implementing three of the eight priority areas defined by the 6th EAC Development Strategy, namely “Strengthening Productive and Social Sectors," “Development of Regional Infrastructure," and “Awareness Creation." The BMZ 2030 reform strategy focuses on a new quality of cooperation. More information on BMZ 2030 can be found here.