PROPOSAL FOR PRESENTATION TO COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES

PROPOSAL FOR PRESENTATION TO COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES

Project Title and Duration Promotion of Technologies for Management of Tea Quality and Food Safety Standards in smallholder tea production in Eastern Africa. Duration: 48 months Location: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi

PROJECT COSTS Counterpart contribution: USD 1,203,235 CFC Financing sought: USD 1,855,284.2 Estimated Total Cost: USD 3,058,519.2

PROJECT SUMMARY This project proposal is submitted jointly by Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi Governments to address the problems that were carefully considered and prioritized by the smallholder tea farmers in their respective countries. The proposal was approved by the Inter- Governmental Group (IGG) in its meeting which was held from 29th November- 1st December 2006 in Nairobi Kenya.

Nature of Project Improve market competitiveness of teas produced by the smallholder tea growers in Eastern Africa through dissemination of information, knowledge and skills using the most efficient and available extension pathway so as to achieve quality and food safety assurance through certification to meet customer demands. The project aims to achieve this through training and dissemination of information and knowledge on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

Broad Objective To improve market access for small holder tea growers through adherence to international food safety standards and improvement of tea quality for increased tea farmer incomes in Eastern Africa region.

Specific objectives To sensitize over 900,000 farmers in the region on the importance and the need for compliance to international tea quality and food safety standards by 2014. To avail at least 3 improved tea clones for multiplication by the small holder tea farmers in Eastern Africa by the end of the project. To establish a comprehensive traceability system as a means of ensuring demonstrated compliance to MRLs, food safety and quality parameters along the tea supply chain in the region by 2014.

Cont To monitor tea quality and pesticide residues on tea in the market. To train extension staff on pesticide surveillance techniques plus enhancing the capacity of at least 25 technicians on MRL in the Eastern Africa region. To generate data for establishment of MRLs on at least 8 pesticides that are on the priority list of consumption. To generate data for establishment of MRLs on at least 4 heavy metals that are in ISO 3720. To establish and enforce a dynamic Institutional and legal framework for MRL s and traceability by June 2014.

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION Tea is an important commodity in the region contributing to foreign exchange earnings. Tea supports livelihoods of more than 15 million persons directly and indirectly and contributes to rural development. Consuming countries have recently enacted new legislations to ensure that the use of pesticides during production does not lead to residue contaminants in tea and therefore pose health risks to the tea consumers.

Cont There are intrinsic problems related to smallscale producers in acquisition of capacities for quality and traceability. There already exists tendencies for the export market to become increasingly dominated by large scale producers who are well informed and updated, and have capacity to easily comply to market requirements. There is need to address the concerns in the smallholder sub-sector.

Common tea pests and diseases Though not serious, the most common pest and disease problems in East Africa include: Tea mites (Red Crevice and Red Spider mites) Scale insects Weevils Tea thrips (Scirtothrips kenyensis), Termites Tea mosquito Helopeltis sp Tea Crickets and chafer grubs. Diseases: Hypoxylon Wood rot disease Armillaria root rot disease. weeds Couch grass (Penisetum sp) and Cynodon dactylon.

COMMON PESTICIDES Pesticides most likely to be used in tea in event of outbreaks which are above the economic injury may include: Herbicides such as those which contains glyphosate acid/salt or glufonisate ammonium as the active ingredients Insecticides which contains lambdacyhalothirn, Bifenthrin, imidacloprid, dimethoate and abamectin as the active ingredients. Fungicides such as those which contain copper, carbendazim, mancozeb and thiophanate-methyl and bicontrol agents among others.

PROJECT COMPONENTS Training Smallholder staff on GAP. tea growers and Extension Enhancing capacity for at least 5 Technicians in each country to detect MRLs and contaminants in tea products. Establishment of Environmental status with respect to agro-chemical residues in tea growing areas. Determination and monitoring of MRLs (targeting specific pesticides) for all tea products in the region. Establishment of Comprehensive traceability system and demonstrated compliance to MRLs. Establishment of dynamic institutional and legal frameworks for MRLs and traceability systems and their enforcement Development of IPM Packages for at least 3 major tea pests

PROJECT OUTPUTS Harmonized tea COP and GAP manual developed and used in the four collaborating countries. Smallholder tea farmers and Tea Extension staff from the region trained. Technicians capacity to analyze tea for pesticide residues enhanced. MRL data on some agricultural pesticides generated. Tea varieties tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses availed to farmers.

Responsibilities of implementing Institutions Establishment of the project. Training and dissemination of project output. Project monitoring and evaluation. Project co-ordination and management. Work planning.

Benefits Improved profitability and competitiveness of small holder tea enterprises. Increase in productivity and production through the use of improved tea clones. Improved tea quality through adoption and implementation of Good Agricultural Practices. It is projected that certified farmers will receive about USD 69 million more for their tea by 2010 and about USD 71 million more by 2015