EABC in collaboration with KEPSA organised a National training on Contract Farming & EAC Export procedures on August 22, 2023, at a Nairobi Hotel. The main goal of the training was to boost the skills of Agri-actors, invigorate competitiveness, and fortify food security across the EAC landscape.

The workshop offered participants a comprehensive learning experience, covering contract farming intricacies and EAC export procedures. The workshop also focused on implementing strategies and future steps, providing a well-rounded roadmap for applying knowledge effectively.

During the training, participants were taken through the different types of contracts, the benefits of contract farming, the steps to follow while negotiating a contract and the roles of the different players in the contracting process. They were also taken through a practical session on contract drafting and negotiations with case studies of ideal contracts along with the process of exporting goods in the region and beyond.

Dr. Agatha Thuo, Managing Director of Agriculture Sector Network delivered a clarion call for collaborative effort and articulated the indispensable role of Agri-actors as sentinels of resilience in the face of global crises. She painted a vivid picture of effective contract farming and streamlined export procedures as interdependent pillars adding that these pillars not only bolster the industry but also illuminate a path towards regional growth. 

Ms. Edda Otieno, of GIZ remarked a discerning insight into the significance of the workshop in enabling farmers to produce for the industry. She heightened that the robust knowledge exchange within the event is a key step towards enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food industry, reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring food security in the EAC region and beyond.

Mr. Gift Gabriel of EABC underscored the training's pivotal role as an incubator for Agri-value chain development, a cornerstone for regional prosperity. He emphasized that empowered Agri-actors will be the vanguards of sustainable economic growth in the EAC.

As a result of this training initiative:

• A cohort of 35 participants was equipped with profound insights into the best practices of Contract Farming across Agri-Value Chains.

• Producers' proficiency was fortified on both technical and contractual fronts, positioning them favourably within the industry.

• The groundwork for a regulatory framework conducive to the smooth operation of contract farming activities was laid.

The session ended with a call to the participants to share the gained knowledge with other Agri-actors in their spaces and to use the gained knowledge to better engage in contract farming.