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COLEACP' SUPPORT IN KENYA-WATER AND SOIL MANAGEMENT
Kenyan farmers are facing increasingly severe droughts due to significant climate change in production areas. Most small and medium-sized farmers often have limited access to irrigation, and their dependence on reduced rainfall and precipitation is of increasing concern. Several green bean-exporting companies have requested support to help their producers use available water more efficiently and sustainably.Technical assistance is being deployed to develop a multi-stage support and training methodology. Following an initial diagnosis to analyse current practices, it will be possible to identify measures that are easy to adopt; simple (not requiring complex and costly technology); and effective in improving current water-management practices, and to create a water-management training programme. This programme will be deployed by the technical teams of exporting companies. A first diagnostic mission was carried out at the companies Frigoken (which works with 50,000 small producers) and Interveg (350 producers).The same methodology is used to meet a similar demand for land management. The objective is to identify measures that smallholders can easily apply to minimise damage caused by drought conditions and to take advantage of improved soil fertility. These measures must not lead to an increase in production costs for farmers, and must be easily integrated into their agricultural production practices, crop rotation and livestock management. The target crop for this first step is green bean cultivation; the two companies supported are again Interveg and Frigoken. The measures defined will be integrated into a training programme on soil conservation and proposals for alternative practices.
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RENCONTRE AVEC LE MINISTRE DU COMMERCE ET LE MINISTRE DE L'AGRICULTURE
En Guinée, nous avons rencontré le Ministre du Commerce M. Marc Yombouno ainsi que la Ministre de l'Agriculture Mme Mariame Camara en présence du Bureau d'Exécution Stratégique. Nous avons discuté notamment de notre partenariat sur le programme PRODEFIMA dont le but est de contribuer à l’accroissement des revenus des acteurs de la filière mangue, en particulier des petits producteurs.Nous sommes ensuite allés à la rencontre de la Compagnie Fruitière de Daboya exportatrice de mangues et productrice de fruits de la passion dans le cadre de l'appui qui lui est apporté par Fit For Market. Avant de rencontrer la Fédération des planteurs de la filière fruit de la Basse Guinée (FEPAF BG) pour aborder leurs activités dans la filière ananas. ????????️
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Fit For Market: 300 requests for support
The Fit For Market (FFM) programme was launched officially in December 2016 and in just one year has received 300 requests for support from thirty African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (see map below).The largest number of requests (167 out of 300) come from horticultural micro, small, and medium enterprises (142 requests) and producer farmer groups/cooperatives (25).Support services have sent 124 requests, mainly consultants and consultancy companies (51). Other requests come from : Farmer and professional organisations/associations (37), Smallholders support structures such as NGO (22), Training centres (7), National/Regional Technical Working Groups (2), certification bodies (2).Nine requests for support have been received from the competent authorities (9).The requests cover the fruit and vegetable sector and with a focus on support to strengthen sustainability of business production and management systems, social standards or sanitary and phytosanitary compliance.
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Let's meet in Fruit Logistica 2018!
The COLEACP team will be present at Fruit Logistica in Berlin from 7 to 9 February. We will be located at Hall 26 / Stand D-17.For ACP and European companies that will not be attending the exhibition, we are of course at your disposal if you need any information or have particular issues to discuss. In particular, we are available to provide information about the mechanisms for accessing and implementation of FFM. Please note that applications for FFM support are online and can be easily directed to COLEACP.For our members only, a guide “Making the most of your participation at Fruit Logistica” of 26 pages is available in our e-library.
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Fit For Market: 350 requests, 140 action plans, 20 applications for access to finance
To date, over 350 individual requests for support have been sent to COLEACP from 30 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) as part of the Fit For Market (FFM) programme (see the map below).140 of these applications have already been converted into action plans which are being implemented on the ground to help strengthen the competitiveness and further the sustainability of the fruit and vegetable industry in ACP countries.20 SMEs have specifically requested support to facilitate their access to finance. These demands relate to investment projects in the areas of fresh fruit processing equipment, the modernisation of production systems and marketing.
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Lecture by Agnès Kalibata, on Friday 23 March in Gembloux, Belgium
“Re-envisioning Investment for African agriculture…” Lecture by Agnès Kalibata, on Friday 23 March in Gembloux, Belgium.Next Friday 23 March 2018, Agnès Kalibata, President of AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) is set to deliver a lecture at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – Liège University, entitled “Re-envisioning Investment for African Agriculture: Top Priorities for Growing Food, Jobs and Economies”.In her capacity as the President of AGRA and in partnership with the public and private sector, Doctor Agnès Kalibata focuses her organisation’s endeavours piloted by the vision of a secure and prosperous African continent, thanks to fast and sustained agricultural growth.Prior to joining AGRA in September 2014, Mrs Kalibata served as Rwanda’s Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources. Agnès Kalibata holds a PhD in entomology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.The lecture will be held at Espace Senghor at the Faculty of Gembloux, starting at 15.00 hours (Entrée 7, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – Liège University). The event is free and open to all.The next day, Saturday 24 March, Agnès Kalibata is set to receive the title of Doctor Honoris Causa at an award ceremony at Liège University.
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COLEACP’s e-learning platform
Learn, test and certify your know-how in the following 7 key areas for a sustainable and inclusive agricultural industry:- Food safety - Plant health - Social accountability and empowerment - Agricultural production and processing - Sustainable production and trade - Business management and development - Environmental managementAll these interactive learning journeys are differentiated according to the degree of expertise and level of progress.Visit our Platform!
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CAMEROON: MORE COORDINATION FOR GREATER IMPACT
COLEACP and the European Development Fund National Authorizing Officer Support Unit (CAON-FED) signed a partnership agreement on 22 March to share their knowledge and experience with a view to heightening capacity building in the public and private horticultural sector in Cameroon.The principle objectives of this partnership are to: Promote the horticultural sector as a driver for macro-economic growth through job creation for the younger generation by ensuring that agriculture is more productive, competitive and relevant to national, regional and international markets; Attract investment to the most promising horticultural value chains to ensure that the necessary resources are available to contribute to the success of the national horticultural strategy. CAON-FED is the structure responsible for acting as an interface and facilitator between the Cameroon Government and the Delegation of the European Union.On 4 and 5 April, both organisations held a workshop on the respective roles and responsibilities of public and private sector stakeholders for sanitary and phytosanitary controls systems, using the Cameroon fruit and vegetable export sector as an example. TOGO: CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE NATIONAL SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY CONTROL SYSTEM Several Togolese Ministers and the Togo National Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee have signed a partnership agreement with the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to provide capacity building on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures in Togo. This partnership should help to provide better market access for Togolese fruit and vegetables, and more broadly lead to sustained economic growth and poverty alleviation for the country.This project supplements the initiatives undertaken by other United Nations bodies, such as the FAO and the WHO (National communications strategy on sanitary and phytosanitary issues, Food inspection good practices guide).Food safety (Maximum Residue Limits of pesticides exceedances) and plant health (white flies, fruit flies and false codling moths) issues encountered in the horticultural industry will be targeted. It is foreseen for COLEACP to support the implementation of this project and to leverage the experiences from the horticultural industry to positively impact other Togolese agricultural value chains.The expected outcomes are an improved sanitary and phytosanitary control system and more effective traceability for Togolese fruit and vegetable exports.
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2018 European Development Days
“Women and girls at the forefront of sustainable development: protect, empower, invest” will be the key theme of these 2018 European Development Days (EDD). COLEACP will be one of the exhibitors at the EDD development village in partnership with the ACP YPN.Our new training system will be showcased, together with a concept store, linked to an online shop, that will present innovative, healthy and high-quality products (organic fruit juices, dried mangos and pineapples, coco butter, mango butter,…) and more importantly, the stories of the women (and men) behind these products who are contributing to the sustainable development of their countries.Organised by the European Commission, the EDDs bring together the development community once a year to share ideas and experiences that will inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges the world is facing. The EDDs will take place at the Tour & Taxis complex on 5 and 6 June 2018 in Brussels, Belgium.
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HOW TO ENSURE THAT YOUR FORTHCOMING FRUIT LOGISTICA TRADE SHOW IS A SUCCESS?
How can you ensure a successful trade fair participation at the next edition of Fruit Logistica in 2019?By preparing your participation! COLEACP has drawn up a practical guide for its members that can be obtained by clicking here.From this year onwards, Africa has a dedicated exhibition hall. The success of this new exhibition centre has created a very favourable environment for mobilising new country exhibitors in 2019. Do you already have a project in mind? We can help you! Contact us at network@coleacp.org (link sends e-mail).
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Fruit Logistica 2019: our guide and location
Post date: January 28th, 2019 As you know, COLEACP will have a booth (Hall 26 Booth D-17) at the upcoming Fruit Logistica exhibition, to be held in Berlin from 6 to 8 February. You are of course welcome.More than 3,200 exhibitors and 78,000 trade visitors will participate in FRUIT LOGISTICA 2019. The Africa Hall, successfully launched in 2018, will again be host to COLEACP in 2019.FRUIT LOGISTICA 2019 offers an opportunity for SMEs from ACP countries, visitors and exhibitors to make direct contact with the international fruit and vegetable market, buyers, competitors, and the latest innovations in the sector.Make a success of your visit to FRUIT LOGISTICA 2019 (reserved for Coleacp members only)
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COLEACP at the World Banana Forum
The banana is the world’s most exported fruit (around 10 billion US dollars per year). It is an essential source of income and employment for thousands of rural families in developing countries, including African and Caribbean countries*. Since it was established in 1973, COLEACP’s members have included key players from the global banana supply chain. In joining the World Banana Forum (WBF), the association reaffirms its commitment to increasing its activities in this sector which is of high socioeconomic importance for ACP countries.The WBF brings together the multiple stakeholders from across the global banana supply chain: retailers, importers, producers, exporters, consumer associations, governments, research institutions, trade unions and civil society organisations. It provides a unique platform for them to work together to achieve consensus on best practices for sustainable banana production and trade. The WBF’s mission is twofold : To inspire collaboration between stakeholders in order to find pragmatic solutions for the betterment of the banana industry; Achieve consensus on best practices regarding workplace issues, gender equity, environmental impact, sustainable production and economic issues. In joining the WBF, COLEACP adheres to the forum’s principle that collaboration is the key to continuous improvement and will provide its expertise in capacity building sustainable agricultural value chains to the EU-ACP banana sector.This type of international partnership is in line with the association’s operational strategy and complements synergies and collaborations implemented at local and regional level in ACP countries.*Source FMB