NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya is set to be among 15 countries participating in a comprehensive initiative to enhance food production in the Eastern and Central Africa region, backed by a $50 million grant. This financial support is designed to bolster the efforts of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), focusing on bio-fortification, aflatoxin control in food, and the establishment of centers of excellence.
According to Kenya News Agency, Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the grant aims to intensify the region’s efforts towards achieving food and nutrition security. Linturi made these remarks during the 3rd ASARECA council of patron ministers meeting, underscoring the critical role of research in combating the challenges posed by climate change, pests, and diseases to food production.
The initiative reflects a collaborative approach among member states to enhance regional capacity for agricultural research. This research is expected to yield crop varieties that are nutritionally rich and resilient against harsh environmental conditions, pests, and diseases. High-yielding varieties, particularly those resistant to diseases like maize necrosis, are among the targeted outcomes to ensure food security within the shortest possible time.
Hosting this high-level event, Kenya looks forward to learning from the experiences of regional countries in addressing agricultural challenges. Linturi emphasized the potential of collaborative efforts in reducing hunger in the region, highlighting Africa’s advantages, including fertile soils, ample arable land, and a growing youthful labor force.
However, Linturi acknowledged the financial and temporal costs associated with agricultural research, calling on donor countries to support ASARECA’s initiatives. The $50 million budget, earmarked for addressing gaps in agricultural research and promoting the adoption of new agricultural technologies, is part of a broader five-year strategy by ASARECA to engage over 375,000 youths and women in agriculture.
Donors such as USAID, the European Union, World Bank, DANIDA, the Melinda Gates Foundation, and IFAD are expected to contribute to this cause. The funding is particularly aimed at enhancing agricultural research and technology adoption across the member states.
During the conference, agriculture ministers discussed policy matters, the sharing of smart agriculture technologies, and how to leverage each country’s comparative advantages in agriculture. The discussions also covered the promotion of centers of excellence, highlighting Uganda’s cassava production, Ethiopia’s wheat farming, Tanzania’s rice cultivation, Kenya’s dairy industry, and Eritrea’s progress in edible oils.
The event marked the transition of ASARECA’s chairmanship from Uganda to Kenya, with Cabinet Secretary Linturi outlining the region’s commitment to addressing the challenges of low funding and information sharing in agricultural research. ASARECA’s member states include a diverse group of countries across Eastern and Central Africa, all united in their quest to improve food production and security.