By Milliam Murigi
Stakeholders in East Africa’s horticulture sector will meet in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, next week to find a coordinated regional approach to persistent trade and logistics challenges that continue to raise the cost of moving fresh produce from farms to markets.
The two-days meeting, scheduled for September 22–23, will also witness the launch of the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA), a private-sector-led regional platform intended to give the industry a stronger collective voice.
“The meeting will provide a structured platform for stakeholders to validate the key constraints facing the sector and identify practical actions that can improve horticultural trade and logistics across the region,” said Dr. Jacqueline Mkindi, interim chairperson of HoCEA and chief executive officer of the Tanzania Horticultural Association.
The meeting comes as producers and exporters contend with high freight costs, inadequate cold-chain facilities, weak first-mile aggregation systems and fragmented digital trade processes.
Delays at ports and borders, differences in sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and certification procedures, as well as limited use of opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), are also affecting the competitiveness of the sector.
“Horticulture is an important contributor to economic development across Eastern Africa, supporting employment, export earnings, food systems and private-sector growth. However, producers and exporters continue to contend with a range of trade and logistics challenges that can increase costs, create delays and reduce the competitiveness of the region’s produce in both regional and international markets,” said Dr. Mkindi.
The problems, she said, extend beyond large exporters, with inefficient trade and logistics systems also limiting opportunities for smallholder farmers, women, young people, small and medium-sized enterprises and logistics providers.
Participants will examine infrastructure and transport requirements for moving fresh produce efficiently from production areas to markets. They will also explore how digital systems and smart corridors could reduce transaction costs, improve information flows and make cross-border trade more efficient.
Another focus will be on sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, certification processes and other non-tariff barriers that affect horticultural trade, with a focus on improving efficiency while maintaining the standards required to protect consumers, plants and markets.
The meeting will further examine how horticulture businesses can take advantage of the growing opportunities presented by AfCFTA and increase trade within African markets.
“The dialogue is designed to go beyond identifying the problems facing the sector. The first day will focus on technical discussions and validation of priority constraints, including identifying potential investments, interventions and responsible actors,” reveals Dr.Mkindi.
“The second day will seek to translate these priorities into policy and investment commitments and define practical follow-up actions. The discussions are also expected to contribute to a Nairobi Communiqué, setting out priority actions, responsible institutions and proposed timelines for follow-up.”
The establishment of HoCEA comes at a time when the horticulture sector is navigating an increasingly complex trading environment, with producers and exporters required to remain competitive while responding to changing market requirements, logistics pressures and evolving trade opportunities.
As a private-sector-led regional platform, HoCEA seeks to bring together national horticulture associations and sector stakeholders to strengthen collective advocacy and engagement on issues affecting the industry’s growth.
Its launch is expected to position the Council as a regional voice for horticulture in Eastern Africa, while providing a platform for sustained engagement between industry, governments, regional bodies and other institutions.
