East Africa

Project Title: Rice Sector Development in East Africa / Study

The Common Fund for Commodities has invited EUCORD to develop a proposal to conduct an appraisal and elaboration of a full project proposal: “Rice Sector Development in East Africa”. As CFC seeks synergies with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the development of the rice sector in Africa, the objective is to fully develop and prepare a project proposal in the East African rice sector that is synergetic and complementary to ongoing or recently concluded rice projects of JICA and other rice sector stakeholders in East African countries.

Funder: CFC

Period: 2011

Project Title: Sorghum Value Chain Development Project

This project aims to improve the level of food security and the living standards of sorghum farmers in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda by a quantitative and qualitative increase in sorghum production. The key problems we wish to address include high costs of inputs, and a lack of access to credit, reliable markets, and improved seeds. Similarly, greater variability in climate, coupled with limited agricultural extension and technical assistance, act as constraints on the productive capacities of sorghum farmers today. In response, EUCORD’s program steps include (a) improving the productivity of the sorghum sector by the introduction of new sorghum varieties and cultivation practices, (b) organizing and strengthening producers groups by technical training and facilitating access to inputs and credit, (c) introducing out-growers schemes by facilitating collaboration between medium and large commercial farmers and surrounding groups of smallholder farmers, and (d) strengthen private sector input providers and intermediary long-distance traders through the facilitation of contractual arrangements, introduction of ware-house receipt credit and other credit provisions.

Funders: EABL/Diageo, CFC

Period: 2011-2015