Sh32.5 billion EAC agricultural extension project launched

Dar es Salaam. The East African Community (EAC) has launched the Sustainable Regional Agricultural Extension (ENSURE) Project, a three-year initiative with a budget of $12.5 million (Sh32.5 billion) aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and sustainability across the region.

Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project is designed to enhance the long-term sustainability of agriculture by expanding access to comprehensive extension services.

It will also strengthen the capacity of EAC Partner States to deliver responsive and effective agricultural training, in line with Article 105 (2d) of the EAC Treaty.

According to a statement from the EAC’s Corporate Communications Department dated March 11, 2025, the project focuses on three main areas including creating an enabling environment for regional policy harmonization.

Others are implementing a pluralistic extension approach involving the public, private, and NGO sectors, and establishing a regional training programme to address transboundary pests and diseases, particularly fall armyworms and desert locusts.

The ENSURE Project is expected to benefit over five million people across the region, with at least 50 percent of beneficiaries being women.

It also aims to create one million jobs, half of which will be occupied by women, through bundled extension services.

During the launch, EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors, Mr Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, noted that the project arrives at a critical moment as the EAC seeks to transform the agricultural sector through several initiatives, including the Agricultural Inputs System Development Programme and the EAC Regional Agriculture Investment Plan (RAIP).

“The ENSURE Project is vital for promoting a regional approach to agricultural extension, improving access to advice and information, supporting the adoption of climate-smart technologies, and enhancing the resilience of farming communities,” said Mr Malueth.

He also highlighted that agriculture is crucial to the EAC’s economies, employing over 60 percent of the population.

Mr Malueth further stressed the importance of accountability, urging stakeholders to focus on achieving the project’s goals and ensuring its outcomes lead to meaningful improvements in agriculture.

AfDB’s Chief Agricultural Technologies Officer, Dr Innocent Musyabimana, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to initiatives that enhance agricultural resilience and productivity.

“We are proud to support the ENSURE Project, as it aligns with our mission to improve food security and reduce poverty across the continent,” he said.

Dr Musyabimana also noted that the project aims to address challenges faced by farmers, such as limited access to extension services, new climate-smart technologies, and the training required to use them effectively.

“The introduction of digital extension tools, such as internet platforms, podcasts, videos, and social media, will help bridge the information gap, ensuring equitable access for men, women, and youth,” he said.

The ENSURE Project will also focus on attracting youth to agriculture, reducing the workload for women, and improving their productivity and income.

By enhancing access to agricultural knowledge and technologies, the project supports the EAC’s Gender Policy and positions the region as a leader in agricultural development.