Regional experts discuss agri-business

Dar-e salaam- Experts from the East African Community are meeting in Dar-e salaam Tanzania, to develop a master plan of transforming small scale farms into agro-processing firms. Dr Ndambe Nzaramba, the Director General of Rwanda Horticulture Development Authority (RHODA), who is attending the conference, observed that the meeting came at the right time. “Rwandan agro- industry products need more market in the region,” he said citing an example of horticulture products whose export to the region can boost the country’s economy. “This meeting is therefore crucial to Rwanda as a country. It will help us learn how to expand the market for our products in the region and beyond.”He added that the meeting will also discuss some of the problems affecting the industry. “They’re some challenges that are hindering our industry, like poor financing and lack of market information, which all need to be addressed, and I am sure by the end of the meeting, we shall come up with possible solutions,” he added. The meeting kicked off on Tuesday and attracted over 50 experts from the five member states of the EAC. Last year, African Union member states endorsed African Agribusiness and Agro-industries Initiative (3ADI) in Abuja Nigeria with a vision to set up a competitive, sustainable and inclusive agriculture sector on the continent. Ends

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Regional experts discuss agri-business