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Session Topics

Session Topics and Speakers

The upcoming 3rd African Grain Trade Summit will for the 3rd time bring together grain trade players from Africa and abroad to discuss the future of the industry in Africa and beyond. The theme for this third annual summit is: Linking Farmers to Markets: Stimulating Agricultural Productivity in Africa. It is in line with this theme that the following topics have been selected for discussion and presentations.

Eastern Africa Grain Council
3rd African Grain Trade Summit
5th to 6th November 2009, Movenpick Hotel, Dar es Salaam
ThemeLinking Farmers to Markets: Stimulating Agricultural Productivity in Africa
 
Wednesday, November 4th 2009
14:00 - 18:00Registration – Foyer, Movenpick Hotel
18:00 - 19:30

EAGC LogoWelcome reception – Poolside Movenpick Hotel
Sponsored by EAGC
Welcome remarks:

  • Nzuki Mwania, USAID East Africa, Kenya
Thursday, November 5th 2009
07.30 – 09.00Display tables set up
07:30 – 17:30Registration – Foyer, Movenpick Hotel
08.30 – 10.00NMB LogoOfficial opening/Kivukoni Room
Chairperson: Nicholas Hutchinson, EAGC Chairman
  • Rakesh Vohora, EAGC Tanzania Country Director
    Host Country Welcome
  • Cris Muyunda, ACTESA CEO, Zambia
    ACTESA/COMESA
  • Hon. Aggrey Bagiire (MP)
  • Dr. Ishebabi (PS)
  • Hon Jaffer Kingi, Minister
    East Africa Community
Opening Presentation
  • Stimulating Agriculture in Africa, Dr. Namanga Ngongi
    AGRA President, Kenya
10:00 – 10:30Unga Holdings LogoCoffee Break Sponsored by Unga Holdings, Kenya
 
10:30 – 11:30SESSION 1:

Cereal Growers Association LogoHarmonization of National and Regional Grain Trade Policies: The Need for Open Borders

Harmonization of national and regional trade policies is critical for African development and is compounded by the globalization and liberalization of the world economy, trade liberalization and promoting private sector and business interests.

Cross border formal and informal trade is a reality. The removal of tarrif and non-tarrif barriers is critical and will reduce transactional costs of intra regional trade and create opportunities for stimulating agriculture and ensuring food security.

Town Hall Meeting
Cross border trade, a reality which governments have refused to accept?

Facilitator: Stephen Kiuri Njukia, AGRA, Kenya

Presenters:

  • Reginal Transit, Shemmy Simuyemba, USAID/COMPETE Program, Kenya (10 min)
  • Reginal trade policy, Bernard Kagira, USAID/COMPETE Program, Kenya  (10 min)
  • Cross border trade: challenges, large trader perspective, Ketan Patel, Export Trading Co Ltd, Tanzania (10 min)
11:30 - 11:45Discussion
 
11:45 - 12:45SESSION 2:

Development of Regional Commodity Markets in Africa

The lack of access to credit is a severe constraint to many farmers. Warehouse receipts are an important and effective tool for creating liquidity and easing access to credit. Such schemes also offer additional benefits such as smoothing the supply and prices in the market, improving grower income, and reducing food losses.

The session will report on the State of Warehouse Receipting and Commodity Exchanges in Africa

Facilitator: Steven Humphreys, USAID/COMPETE Program, Kenya

Presenters:

  • Regional review of COMEX and WRS, Dr. Gideon Onumah, Natural Resource Institute, UK (10 min)
  • Can the SAFEX model be used elsewhere in Africa, Rod Gravelet-Blondin, SAFEX, RSA (10 min)
  • Challenges in setting up a commodity exchange, Dr. Eleni Gabre-Madhin, ECX, Ethiopia (10 min)
  • Warehouse receipt system and commodity markets in Africa: a case of AMSDP, Julius Kallambo, Agricultural Market Systems Development Programme, Tanzania (10 min)
  • NCPB EAGC WRS collaboration: Prof. Gideon Misoi NCPB, Kenya (10 min)
12:45 - 13:00Discussion
 
13:00 – 14:00Lunch break
 
14:00 – 15:00SESSION 3

Financing Agriculture in Africa; Risk Management and Investment Financing

This session will focus on innovative financing mechanisms for mobilizing private sector investment in the agriculture sector in Africa.

Facilitator: Ben Moshi, EAGC Board Member, Tanzania

Presenters:

  • Challenges experienced by financial institutions using commodities as collateral, Sophie Walker, KMDP, Kenya (10 min)
  • Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Bank, Kenya (10 min)
  • Dr. Nicomed Bohey, CRDB, Tanzania (10 min)
  • Financing agriculture in Africa: risk management and investment financing, Patrick Ndagu, African Agricultural Capital, Uganda (10 min)
  • Albert Rweyemamu, The African Trade Insurance Agency, Kenya (10 min)
  • Credit support services in structured trade finance, Alex Kwayu, ACE- Collateral Management, Tanzania (10 min)
15:00 - 15:15
Discussion
15.15 – 15.45Seaboard LogoCoffee Break Sponsor by Seaboard
 
15.45 – 17.15SESSION 4

Linking Small Farmers to Markets through Innovations/Technology

This session highlights innovative practices that have enabled access to markets and contributed to better income generating options for small farmers. The innovations range from adoption of new technology, food quality and safety, supply chain integration and access to information.

Facilitator: Bruce Smith, IFDC, Rwanda

Speakers:

  • The hermetic storage system: the Rwanda experience, Rose Ndungú, Grainpro, Kenya (15 min)
  • WFP's food procurement, purchase for progress and linking farmers to markets, Nicole Menage , World Food Programme, Italy (15 min)
  • Community based grain warehouses, Prof. Barnabas Mitaru, University of Nairobi, Kenya (15 min)
  • Harnessing opportunities for productivity enhancement of sorghum and millet in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, Mary Mgonja, ICRISAT, Kenya (15 min)
  • Improving food security and livelihoods for small scale farmers using Amiran Farmer kits, Christopher Nzuki,  Amiran Kenya Ltd,  (15 min)
17:15 - 17:30
Discussion
19:30 – 22.30EAGC LogoGala Dinner, Lawns, Movenpick Hotel Lawns Sponsored by EAGC
 
Friday, November 6th 2009
08:00 – 13:30Registration – Movenpick Hotel
08:30 – 09:30SESSION 5

Plant Breeding and Biotechnology: Future Contribution to Food Security in Africa

Facilitator: Steve Collins, ACDI/VOCA, Kenya

Speakers:

  • Water efficient maize for Africa, Dr. Silvester Oikeh, AATF/WEMA Kenya (15 min)
  • Trends in biotechnology in use worldwide, Dr Margaret Karembu - ISAAA
  • Status of biotechnology in use in Africa, Kinyua M’Mbijiwe, Monsanto, Kenya (15 min)
  • The importance of good quality seeds for food security purposes, Azariah Soi, Kenya Seed Company Ltd/Simlaw Seeds Ltd, Kenya (15 min)
09:30 - 10:15Panel Discussion
10:15 – 11:00Export Trading Company LogoCoffee break Sponsored by Export Trading Company, Kenya
 
11:00 – 11:45SESSION 6

Cross cutting challenges affecting grain trade in Africa

This session will explore strategies to overcome a myriad of interrelated problems affecting Africa including climate change, food shortages and droughts.

Facilitator: Cris Muyunda, ACTESA/COMESA, Zambia

Presenters:

  • Effects of global trends on environment on grain trade in Africa, Tom De Bruin – Grainpro, USA (10 min)
  • National and regional challenges to developing grain markets, John Magnay , Opportunity International, Uganda (15 min)
  • Feasibility of a common strategy for trade-based food security in East Africa, Dr H. Bohela Lunogelo, Kilimo Trust, Uganda (10 min)
11:45 - 12:00Discussion
 
12:00 – 13:00SESSION 7

EAGC: where do we want to be two years from now?

Facilitator: Sophie Walker, KenAgri, Kenya

Presenter:

  • Summary of expectations from the baseline study, Brown Makotsi, EA Development Consultants, Kenya

Open discussions and views from farmers, millers, traders and service providers

13:00 – 14:00

Official Summit Closing
Chairperson: Fostina Mani, EAGC Board member

Wrap-up and way forward, Constantine Kandie, EAGC, Kenya

Nicholas Hutchinson, EAGC Chairman

 
14:00 – 15:00Closing Luncheon
  
15:00Delegates check out and depart  at their own pleasure
 

Summit facilitators:

  • Constantine Kandie, EAGC, Kenya
  • David Nyameino, Cereal Growers Association (CGA), Kenya
  • David Tuhoye, CBA Tanzania