ICRISAT, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (FAO-SFE), has launched a transformative initiative to combat hidden hunger in East and Southern Africa.
In this, key stakeholders gathered for a collaborative writeshop to establish the foundation for an innovative project proposal from April 3 to 6.
The proposal, titled “Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness Development in East and Southern Africa,” focuses on addressing major challenges in the millet and vegetable value chains. It aims to foster entrepreneurship and support agribusiness incubation while also developing new processed food products combining millet and vegetables to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition and encourage balanced diets.
In a potential South-South collaboration, the team presented their proposal and action plan to the Indian High Commissioners in Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda. They engaged with a range of stakeholders, including national research institutions, agribusiness incubators, food processing companies, small and medium enterprises, startups, and farmer producer organizations.
The team organized virtual briefings and knowledge-sharing sessions with FAO staff in Africa and Rome, as well as with ICRISAT local office teams. Before the writeshop, they visited retail outlets to observe product offerings and consumer preferences for millet and vegetables.
The Writeshop
During the writeshop, participants took part in group discussions, presentations, and deliberations to enhance the project proposal. The group was divided into three teams consisting of representatives from Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda. These teams worked together to provide country-specific insights and solutions, focusing on inclusive value chains and the involvement of women in entrepreneurship and agribusiness development.
Dr. Nomathemba Mhalanga, Agribusiness Officer from FAO-SFE, and Dr. Mark Kofi Fynn, Agro-food Systems and Investment Specialist from the FAO Regional Office for Africa (FAO-RAF) in Accra, offered valuable contributions during the group sessions.
Mr. Selvaraj and Ms. Nadipalli gave an in-depth presentation on diagnostic studies and potential partners in Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda. Additionally, participants interacted with Dr. Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT.
Dr. Hughes stressed the significance of creating inclusive value chains that empower all participants, including women, to achieve impact through entrepreneurship and agribusiness development projects.
Writeshop Outcome
The writeshop resulted in a consolidated draft project proposal, which will be finalized by the end of April 2024 before being submitted to targeted donors for funding consideration.
The project aims to establish partnerships with agribusiness incubators, food processing companies, and other relevant stakeholders in the target countries. It aligns with the South-South Initiative between India and Africa, adding to its overall importance.
Certificates were distributed to team members to acknowledge their contributions to the initiative.
The event also featured field visits to ICRISAT facilities, T-Hub, and the Samagri Packhouse and Processing Unit, offering participants valuable insights into agricultural practices and food processing operations.
