Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Friday, August 20, 2010

Course on standards and agricultural trade in Africa

August 2 – 6, 2010. Arusha, Tanzania. World Bank Institute (WBI) – TRAPCA course on standards and agricultural trade in Africa. The 5-day course, jointly organized by the WBI and TRAPCA discussed the key issues related to agri-food trade that are of particular interests to decision-makers in SSA. Further, it analyzed the strategic agricultural trade issues associated with food security and poverty reduction which are increasingly gaining global interest in the light of the 3Fs – food, fuel and financial crisis. The course put an emphasis on the issue of standards, which has gained prominence in global food and agricultural trade for the past decades, especially in issues related to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards.

Over 40 people including policy makers, resource persons, researchers, CSOs, farmers organizations, donors and development partners participated in the course.

The main purpose of this course was to strengthen the capacities of African analysts:

  • To further understand the implications of recent trends and developments in agricultural trade flows, recent global market developments and how they can contribute to economic growth, food security, and poverty reduction; and,
  • To create greater awareness on the challenges and opportunities associated with technical regulations and standards in international markets and to develop an appreciation of appropriate policy responses, with a particular focus on agri-food products.

The 5-day course commenced with welcome remarks from (i) Dr. Peter Kiuluku, TRAPCA’s Executive Director; and (ii) Dr. Soamiely Andriamananjara, Senior Economist (Trade), Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, World Bank Institute, USA. The presentations, discussions and training followed the following modules:

• Module 1. Stylized facts in agricultural trade flows
• Module 2. Stylized facts in agricultural trade policies
• Module 3. Drivers of agricultural trade and trade policy
• Module 4. Agricultural Commodity Markets
• Module 5. Structural transformations in private sector agricultural markets
• Module 6. Standards, GMO, and IPR in Agricultural Trade
• Module 7. Recent developments in multilateral trading system
• Module 8. Agriculture in regional and preferential agreements
• Module 9. Trade policy reforms and strategic export development
• Module 10. Lessons from regional case studies

List of participants:
  1. Dr. Peter Kiuluku, the ED, TRAPCA, Arusha, Tanzania.
  2. *Dr. Caiphas Chekwoti, Programe Director, TRAPCA, Arusha, Tanzania.
  3. Dr. Soamiely Andriamananjara, Senior Economist (Trade), Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, World Bank Institute, USA.
  4. Dr. Luz Berania Diaz Rios, Agricultural & Rural Development Department (ARD), the World Bank, USA.
  5. Dr. Vinaye Ancharaz, Department of Economics, University of Mauritius, Mauritius.
  6. Dr. Joy Kiiru, School of Economics, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
  7. Dr. Terry Kahuma, Executive Director, Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Uganda.
  8. *Ms. Jacqueline Mkindi, CEO of the Tanzania Horticultural Organization (TAHA), Tanzania.
  9. Dr. David Laborde Debucquet, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA.
  10. Tekanyo Machailo Tshetlhane, Market Intelligence Executive, Bostwana Export Development and Investment Authority, Gaborone, Botswana.
  11. Kebotsemang Ofaletse, Principal Agricultural Economist, Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana.
  12. Yapo Francis Ahoti, Driector of Standardization and Certification, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
  13. Myriam Fernando, Special Projects Manager, German Development Cooperation (GTZ), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  14. Eric Zunouh Banye, Value Chain Advisor, Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Accra, Ghana.
  15. Abena Safoa Osei, Senior Standards Officer, Ghana Standards Board, Accra, Ghana.
  16. Arshfod Njenga Ngugi, Manager, Promotion of Private Sector Development in Agriculture(PSDA), GTZ, Nairobi, Kenya.
  17. Margaret N. Orina, Manager, Promotion of Private Sector Development in Agriculture(PSDA), GTZ, Nairobi, Kenya.
  18. Timothy Irungu Mwangi, SPS & Standards Manager, Fintrac INC – USAID-Kenya Horitculture Competitiveness Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.
  19. Fred V. Johnson, Director for Industrial Development, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Monrovia, Liberia.
  20. Richard Rakotoniaina, Executive Director, Investment Promotion, Ministry of Economy and Industry, Madagascar.
  21. Joseph P. B. Maruwo, Quality Control Manager, National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM), Lilongwe, Malawi.
  22. Mootoosamy Poovathal, Senior Agricultural Analyst, Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Production and Security, Mauritius.
  23. Benedit I Ezema, Department of Economics, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  24. Evans Stephen Osabuohien, Department of Economics, Covenant University, Ogun State, Nigeria.
  25. Serigne Diene, Trade Negotiations Advisor, Ministere de l’Economie du Commerce’ Industrie et du Tourisme (MECIT), Gabon.
  26. Guguletu Mqambalala, Agricultural Economist, Department of Agricultural, Forests & Fisheries, South Africa.
  27. Manal Alzain Mohammed Musaad, Counternant to Advisor on Agricultural and EIF Officer, National Secretariat for WTO Affairs, Khartoum, Sudan.
  28. Nasir Mahmoud Talab, Assistant to the Head of COMESA Unit, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Khartoum, Sudan.
  29. Gilbert Msuta, Livestock Research Officer, Ministry of Livestock Development & Fisheries, Livestock Research Centre, Tanzania.
  30. Prisca Mbaga, Trade Officer, Ministry of Industry Trade & Marketing, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.
  31. Josephine Akia, Policy and Advocacy Officer, National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU), Kampala, Uganda.
  32. Simon Banda, Liaison Officer, Fairtrade Labelling Organization International, Lusaka, Zambia.
  33. Chiluba Mwape, Senior Agriculture Research / Phytosanitary Officer, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service, Zambia.
  34. Admire Jongwe, Principal Agricultural Economist, Ministry of Agriculture, Harare, Zimbabwe. 

*Paper presenters at the FARA/ASARECA/SADC/ECDPM/CTA/ FDA regional policy dialogue workshop on promoting access to regional and international markets for agricultural commodities in East and Southern Africa (ESA), held in Nairobi, Kenya.
  
About TRAPCA
 
The Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (trapca) was inaugurated in December 2006 with the mandate of providing training and technical expertise on trade issues to professionals in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Situated in Arusha, Tanzania, the centre operates under the auspices of the Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute (ESAMI) and the Lund University in Sweden.

Further reference:
TRAPCA 2010 prospectus


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