EAC states cautioned against trading toxic food

By Francis Emorut in Kigali                                                                        
 
The East Africa Community (EAC) states have been cautioned against trading in toxic food as it is a threat to the health of citizens in the region and the rest of the world.
 
"The grain must be safe for citizens of our region and of the world. Safe food must be free from toxic levels," Rwanda's Prime Minister, Anastase Murekezi, said.
 
He made remarks at the opening of the 6th African Grain Trade Summit at Kigali Serena Hotel on Thursday.
 
Murekezi also called on African governments not to compromise on the quality of grain traded across African markets and globally saying substandard grain would not be competitive and will not attract investment opportunities.
 
"Grain commodities must comply with quality standards for greater safety and competitiveness,"Murekezi said
 
The Premier advocated for harmonized policies, procedures and standards that support grain trade.
 
He emphasized the need for joint collaboration among the member states in enabling competitive grain sector that brings satisfaction to farmers and millers.
 
"Let's attract more investment and reducing cost of doing business in the region," he stated.
 
He appealed to governments, policy makers and other stakeholders to address challenges affecting grain trade in the region and come up with policy frameworks that would enable increased grain trade as well as adaptation of new technologies.
 
He pledged his government's commitment to support grain sector by providing enabling environment.
 
"Long-term strategies and commitments from both the public and private sector are needed, combined with action across a wide range of policy areas to create an enabling environment for structured grain trade in Africa," Francois Kanimba the Rwanda's trade minister said.
 
"Structured grain trade can be well managed and governed in an efficient and principled manner through effective cooperation among countries and the various trading blocs."
 

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Delegates attend the summit in Kigali. (Credit: Francis Emorut)

  The summit held under the theme: "Towards Creating an Enabling environment for Grain Trade in Africa: "Technology, Investment, Information, Policy and Services", was organised by Eastern African Grain Council (EAGC) and attracted over 200 delegates in Africa and European countries.
 
It aimed at providing a forum where all key sector players in the grains industry would meet on a regional basis to map out a regionally focused strategy for grain trade market development.
 
Other objectives included highlighting opportunities for grain sector investment in Africa, providing a platform to discuss and recommend solutions to grain trade, affording delegates a unique opportunity to showcase their products, expose African grain practitioners and suppliers to new technologies as well as network and share knowledge and experiences.
 
 Gerald Masila, the executive director of Eastern Africa Grain Council implored various stakeholders to come up with practical solutions which address challenges in grain trade and show commitment to follow through in a coordinated, collaborative and concerted manner, towards achieving the shared vision of a vibrant trade in grain and staple foods in Africa for a sustained, sufficient, and food secure Africa.
 
The chairman of EAGC, Dr. Bernard Otim pointed out the 6th Africa Grain Trade Summit would also address  issues that limit trade in grains and staple foods in the Eastern Africa region and Africa at large.
 
He said the focus is on what needs to be done for grain trade to thrive - between producers and traders through to processors and to the final consumers - in an efficient and effective manner that would reduce transaction costs and increase earnings to the value chain actors, while making food affordable to consumer.
 
He noted that emphasis would be placed on technology, information and services arguing that these are some of the major factors hindering the competitiveness and productivity of grain sector value chains in Eastern and Southern Africa.
 
The head of European Union in Rwanda, Ambassador Michael Ryan urged African governments to ratify trade agreements so as to access European markets.
 
He also called on governments to address food fortification to combat malnutrition in the region.
 
Michael Hailu, director of Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) noted governments play a critical role in establishing policies that support the training of farmers and providing extension services in order to transform agricultural sector.