COMESA stakeholders harmonize fertilizer policy

NaijaAgroNet:

Stakeholders at the just concluded high level harmonization workshop on fertiliser policies and regulations in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) ended in the city of Lusaka, Zambia, with a call by member states to proactively facilitate free trade through meaningful regional integration, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The two day meeting, NaijaAgroNet gathered attracted policy makers in COMESA region who ended up recommending that COMESA, being the implementing agency of the member countries facilitates a highly consultative process at national and sub-regional levels that will lead to an agreement on a regional policy and regulatory framework for fertiliser development.

A press statement issued by Maria Wanzala-Mlobela, Senior Fertilizer Expert with Africa Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) informed NaijaAgroNet that the main tasks will include a systematic assessment of, and response to, policy, legal and regulatory obstacles to fertiliser trade, including the removal of value added tax (VAT) and other taxes on all fertiliser products in the region.

This, she said, was aimed at creating an enabling environment for private sector investment and commercial opportunities in the region.

As said by her, investing in improved agricultural production is vital to Africa’s economic transformation to alleviate poverty and achieving food security through the development of the fertilizer industry especially through public private partnerships (PPPs).

Ms. Maria Wanzala-Mlobela noted that revolutionising the fertilizer supply chain system in Africa requires a multi-stakeholder, all inclusive approach that addresses access, affordability, availability, and investments incentives.

“COMESA will support the domestication of regional regulations, monitor progress toward regional harmonisation and guide Member States in the formulation and alignment of national policy and programme initiatives such as subsidy programmes,” said Maria Wanzala-Mlobela.

+Remmy Nweke @NaijaAgroNet @COMESA
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COMESA, AFAP in joint fertilizer programme

NaijaAgroNet:

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) have entered a joint fertilizer programme to enhance member-states increase in supply and use of fertilizer among smallholder farmers, reports NaijaAgroNet.

 The programme, NaijaAgroNet gathered is expected to catalyse agribusiness development for rural transformation.

Speaking at the launch of the Joint Fertilizer Harmonisation Programme, AFAP president, Jason Scarpone, told NaijaAgroNet in a press statement that the goal of the cooperation is to enhance regional trade in fertilizer and food staples, food security and incomes by strengthening small and medium enterprises that are essential for increasing competitiveness and integrating farmers into national, regional and international market to catalyse rural transformation.

NaijaAgroNet also gathered from the Vice President, Partnerships and Communication at AFAP, Professor Richard Mkandawire who endorsed the press statement that COMESA and AFAP have committed themselves to working together in establishing a fertilizer trade facility comprising a set of financial instruments through investments in medium enterprises working along the fertilizer value chain.

He noted that this partnership would strengthen the Eastern and Southern Africa Fertilizer Stakeholders’ Forum as an avenue for sustained dialogue between the public and private sector in catalysing the growth of fertilizer markets in the region.

Describing the deal as a landmark achievement that would spur the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) agricultural growth agenda for COMESA member states.

Also commenting, COMESA’s Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya said the partnership would boost private sector investment in fertilizer production, supply and use in the region is a major priority.

“The AFAP model in enhancing use and usage of fertiliser is a proven instrument for rural transformation” Ngwenya said.

+Naija AgroNet +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +CAADP - Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme  @COMESA
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