The commercialization of potato, a common food crop largely consumed in East Africa, will receive a boost following the launching of a dedicated value-chain platform. The initiative will go a long way in scaling up the production and marketing of the food crop currently cultivated in about 400,000 hectares in the region.
The East African Community (EAC) and its affiliated organization based in Arusha, the East African Business Council (EABC) are behind the platform. Dubbed the ‘Jumuiya Potato Platform’, the initiative was launched in Kampala, Uganda at the weekend with the support of the German Development Agency (GIZ).
John Bosco Kalisa, EABC executive director urged the officials tasked to spearhead the platform to advocate for ease of trade of potatoes “and integrate the value chains in the sector: “While cross-border trade can be a major challenge, the platform should facilitate the flow of technical and market-related information.”
Shared information will lead to harmonization of the regulations that would favor better standards and prices in the interests of the farmers and consumers.
Source: thecitizen.co.tz