ARUSHA (Tanzania), Feb 2 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — LEADING horticultural figures from across East Africa have come together to create a new regional platform aimed at driving growth in the multi-billion-dollar industry within the East African trading bloc.
The newly formed body, called the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA), seeks to bolster the region’s horticultural sector by addressing pressing challenges and tapping into emerging growth opportunities.
In the development, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), Dr Jacqueline Mkindi has been appointed the first Chairperson of HoCEA.
Her leadership is seen as a cornerstone for the council’s strategic vision and development.
Supporting her are key leaders, including Clement Tulezi, CEO of the Kenya Flower Council, who will serve as the Secretary and Esther Nekambi, Executive Director of the Uganda Flower Exporters Association, who takes on the role of Treasurer.
This diverse leadership team signals strong cooperation between East Africa’s main horticultural players.
HoCEA has identified several priority areas aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the region’s horticultural industry.
These include developing a quality mark and a branding strategy to elevate regional products on the global stage, implementing comprehensive disease and pesticide monitoring to protect plant health and enhancing market access for local growers.
The council will also focus on improving logistics to streamline the supply chain, supporting advocacy and facilitating better communication across the region.
Additionally, HoCEA plans to implement rigorous certification standards, prioritise food safety and adopt resource conservation practices.
An important aspect of HoCEA’s mandate is to organise annual international trade events to showcase the region’s products and build stronger global trade partnerships.
The creation of HoCEA marks a major leap forward for the East African horticultural industry, bringing a unified approach to tackling industry challenges and seizing new opportunities for growth.
At the launch event held at TAHA’s headquarters in Arusha recently, Dr Mkindi expressed her optimism about the council’s potential to transform the region’s horticultural landscape.
“With strong leadership and a focused strategy, HoCEA will become a catalyst for change in the region,” she said.
Dr Mkindi also credited TradeMark Africa (TMA) for its vital support in advancing the initiative.
“Our success would not have been possible without the invaluable support of TradeMark Africa,” she noted.
“Their commitment to improving market access and facilitating trade and investment in East Africa has been crucial.”
She further emphasised that TMA’s partnership has helped the region navigate the complexities of global trade, creating sustainable opportunities and contributing to a more integrated and prosperous East Africa.
TMA’s support has played an essential role in realising the council’s goals, driving economic growth and empowering local communities across the region.
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat has also launched an ambitious Fruits and Vegetables Value Chain Strategy and Action Plan (2021-2031), which aims to increase intra-regional trade in fruits and vegetables to 25 million US dollars and global exports to 1.3 billion US dollars by 2031.
Currently, intra-EAC trade in fruits and vegetables is valued at around 10 million US dollars. The strategy seeks to enhance production capacity, boost research and development, improve packaging, expand market access and improve trade facilitation, policy coordination and infrastructure.
By 2031, the plan targets raising global exports of vegetables to 950 million US dollars and fruits to 350 million US dollars, compared to the current levels of 416 million US dollars and 125 million US dollars, respectively.
The fruits and vegetables sector is a key contributor to the region’s economy, accounting for between 20 and 36 per cent of the GDP of EAC countries. — NNN-DAILYNEWS