The eleven grant beneficiary projects from Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya were officially launched at a workshop organized by FARA and its consortium partners, marking a new phase of the AIRTEA project (Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Ecosystem for Inclusive Rural Transformation & Livelihood in Eastern Africa) financed by the ACP Innovation Fund.

Organised from 28 March to 1rst of April by FARA in partnership with Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA)  and the East Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF)  and in presence of the eleven Multi-Stakeholder Partnership organizations (see the list) that have been granted totaling about 2.5 million euros to promote AIRTEA, the workshop aimed at ensuring synergies and a collective impact on the project outcomes.

Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), which coordinates the 4-year project, highlighted in his opening remarks the concept of “Agribusiness Learning Alliances”, one of the novelties introduced by AIRTEA to support the transition of farmers’ groups from subsistence to profitable and dynamic businesses.

Dr. Enock Warinda, Executive Director of ASARECA also mentioned the importance of an integrated delivery approach: “Agricultural transformation requires an integrated delivery approach across an ecosystem with partners, government, and development partners to integrate and coordinate the execution of various initiatives that exist in the agricultural sector.“

Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala, President of EAFF, emphasized the need for governments to subsidize farm inputs, zero rate duties fee on agriculture mechanization equipment and agriculture machinery and related technologies, and foster the development and implementation of an agriculture-imports substitution strategy streamlining the regulation of digital agriculture and giving more support for Youth-leaning projects/ programs.

The four-year AIRTEA project (2021-2025) will contribute to achieving sustainable agrarian livelihoods and rural transformation by fostering an inclusive innovation environment in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda

AIRTEA is financed under the ACP Innovation Fund, a pillar of the OACPS Research and Innovation Programme, implemented by the OACPS Secretariat and funded by the European Union.