Cultivating
Sustainable Futures
News
Guinea-Bissau: COLEACP Mango Online Workshop
You can find the Portuguese version belowOn 28 January COLEACP organised a Mango Online Workshop as part of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme in Guinea-Bissau (WACOMP-GB).The meeting was convened for WACOMP-GB by Mr Adalberto Vieira (Chief Technical Advisor) and Ms Siham Chafak (international expert) and attended by representatives of the European Union, the Ministry of Industry, associations, producers, NGOs, and different private and public sector stakeholders with an interest in the mango value chain.Mrs Inês Bastos (Regional Programme Manager) and Ms Laura Wauters (Project Manager) of COLEACP presented key issues related to the challenges and opportunities of the mango export market, the importance of quality, and the roles of actors in the mango value chain. They also introduced COLEACP's e-learning platform for training of producers and private sector actors.WACOMP-GB focuses on the mango value chain and how local producers can get the most out of investing in mango production.A poll taken during the meeting asked participants what they consider to be the biggest challenge in the mango export market. Most (25%) felt the greatest challenge is organisation of the mango value chain, followed by SPS regulations (20%), quality required by markets (20%), importers' requirements (15%), and staying competitive despite additional costs (5%).The workshop was the first of a series of several COLEACP activities that will be organised in collaboration with WACOMP. Further activities – training and technical cooperation for both public and private sectors – will be implemented by COLEACP in Guinea-Bissau up to June 2022.WACOMP is financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization–Quality Infrastructure (UNIDO-QI). The programme, which has 16 national components and one regional component, aims to support selected value chains at national and regional levels to promote structural transformation and better access to regional and international markets, while taking into account social and environmental concerns.
News
STDF Guinea: increasing the phytosanitary control and certification system
The Steering Committee of the STDF Guinea project was held last week to present the activities carried out in semester 2 and the programme for year 2; and to validate the semester report. In addition to the COPIL members, two Guinean experts, Dr. Traoré and Mr. Bangoura, joined the meeting and contributed greatly to the implementation of our activities during semester 2.
News
AVOCADO ASSOCIATION UGANDA develops a three-year strategic plan
AVOCADO ASSOCIATION UGANDA (formerly HASHAU) has been receiving support from COLEACP to work on their governance structure and guidelines. In addition, board members of AVOCADO ASSOCIATION UGANDA have received coaching to develop a strategic plan for the coming three years (2021-2023), outlining a list of priority services which the association envisions providing to its members. The overall objective is to enable AVOCADO ASSOCIATION UGANDA members to access international and domestic horticultural markets by complying with Good Agricultural Practices, SPS and market requirements, in a sustainable framework. AVOCADO ASSOCIATION UGANDA is a not-for-profit inter-professional association created in 2018 with 50 members, mainly small avocado growers.
News
Ghana: training in cost/benefit analysis for a women’s cooperative of Global Shea Alliance
As part of COLEACP's Fit For Market programme, training in cost/benefit analysis for micro/small scale producers was organised for the Global Shea Alliance (GSA). The training aimed to build capacity in cost/benefit and cashflow-related calculations for the production of vegetables at producer level, and in how farmers can be assisted to budget for the various activities in the vegetable production cycle. To increase farmers’ level of professionalism, a budgeting and planning exercise has been set up using simple tools that are understandable and relevant to their daily activities.GSA is a non-profit industry association with 500 members from 35 countries, including women's groups, brands and retailers, suppliers and NGOs, that promotes industry sustainability, quality practices and standards, and demand for shea in food and cosmetics.
News
Second session of STDF Cameroon project facilitator training
All this week, in Penja, a second training session is taking place for experts and strategic actors in the pepper value chain. This follow-up session aims to put into practice the technical and training skills acquired during the first session in December 2020. At the end of this training, participants will be able to play the role of trainers and coaches, especially for the training courses planned within the framework of this project. The STDF Cameroon project, led by COLEACP, aims to improve the sanitary and phytosanitary quality of Penja pepper.
News
Improving the SPS Quality of Penja pepper in Cameroon
COLEACP's STDF-funded project "Improving the sanitary and phytosanitary quality of Penja pepper in Cameroon to facilitate access to international markets" held its biannual steering committee meeting on 28 January at the headquarters of the Penja Pepper Geographical Indication Group (IGPP) and online. The project, which began in October 2019, is now entering its second year. The main activity in year 1 was the finalisation of a good practice guide for the pepper sector. In 2021, actors in the Penja pepper value chain will receive training based on this good practice guide.
News
Dominican Republic: JAD-COLEACP webinars
In collaboration with the Dominican Agroenterprise Board (Junta Agroempresarial Dominicana, JAD), COLEACP is organising a series of webinars on market access for processed products in the pineapple, mango and avocado sectors. These are part of the CALIFRUP project "Quality enhancement for the development of MSMEs in the processed fruit value chain", which aims to support the strategy of value chain development and, specifically, to strengthen the processed fruit value chain.The first webinar, on “The international market for processed products”, will be held on 3 February from 10:00 to 13:00 (UTC).
News
Ethiopia : EHPEA launches horticultural training centre
The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) has announced the opening of a technical and vocational training institute for the horticultural sector, the first of its kind in the country. The focus will be on the competitiveness of the Ethiopian horticultural industry and access to international markets. The institute aims to address the shortage of skilled labour in the sector and to play a role in technology transfer, and plans to offer 3 to 6 month training courses in conjunction with the private sector to provide internships and apprenticeships. More than 2,000 people are expected to be trained by 2022. (Source: De l’autre côté de l’Afrique: La veille agricole, 25 January).
News
Ghana: training on Organic Systems Implementation and Certification
As part of COLEACP's Fit For Market programme, a training in organic implementation systems was organized for a family-owned company SGA Farms, producing papayas in Ghana, in order to build their capacity in organic production methods. This training covered aspects related to certification, setting up an internal control system, drawing up procedures and documentation, maintaining the system, etc. (including technical and financial implications of implementing this production system). The training also aimed at building the capacity of the staff on strategies of integration of external producers into a certified organic production system.
News
STDF Cameroon: Collective training on good nursery practices
In December 2021, group training was held in Penja, Cameroon on good nursery practices in Penja. The training for member companies of the Penja pepper GI aimed to strengthen the skills of nurserymen and nursery managers so that they can master the management of a nursery, from choosing varieties to an understanding of risk control measures recommended in nurseries. The training, part of the "Project to improve the sanitary and phytosanitary quality of Penja pepper in order to facilitate its access to international markets" (STDF/PG/593), was well received by all involved:
News
Professor Arpaia welcomed to Avocado Society of Kenya’s Board (partner of NExT Kenya)
The Avocado Society of Kenya has the honor to have Professor Mary Lu Arpaia to serve on its Board of Directors. Prof Arpaia is a renowned avocado researcher from the University of California. Avocado Society of Kenya promotes efficient production and organised marketing for long-term profitability of avocado agribusinesses in Kenya. It works with public and private stakeholders to provide innovative services that influence agricultural transformation, empowering members and especially smallholder farmers to sustainably increase productivity. COLEACP is looking forward to working with @KenyaAvocados under the new NExT Kenya programme.
News
Access to finance: Instaveg benefits from Agrifi Challenge Fund after COLEACP support
Instaveg Ltd is one of the companies that has actively participated in COLEACP’s Fit for Market programme. Besides technical support, leads to financial institutions and grant programmes enabled the company to benefit from a grant from the Agrifi Challenge Fund to set up a new packaging facility that will facilitate food safety compliance with BRCGS and reduce food waste. The combined support and linkages by COLEACP facilitate market access, creation and retention of jobs, and sustainable activities for farmers and smallholders. Instaveg’s managing director Ashibon Mwangi says Fit For Market support “Will not only help us become a stronger business but also a consistent supplier, employer and farmers’ partner.”