KENYA/ ETHIOPIA – The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and with support from the Mastercard Foundation, has officially launched the Ethiopia-Kenya Corridor Project.
This three-year initiative, under the theme “Stimulating Inclusive Export-Oriented Pulses Trade in the Northern Corridor of Eastern Africa,” aims to strengthen trade, enhance income, and create jobs—particularly for women and youth—in the pulses export value chain between the two neighbouring countries.
Unveiled during a high-level workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the project is designed to address the barriers that have hindered the full exploitation of pulses trade between Ethiopia and Kenya.
Ethiopia, one of the top ten global producers of pulses, generated 3.47 million metric tons of pulses in 2021, yet only 10% of this production is exported.
Projections suggest this will rise to 3.78 million metric tons by 2026. In contrast, Kenya produces approximately 600,000 metric tons of pulses annually, with a significant shortfall of 200,000 metric tons required to meet domestic demand—a gap exacerbated by climate change.
Gerald Masila, Executive Director of the EAGC, highlighted the importance of this initiative for regional trade and food security.
“By addressing barriers that have limited the potential of the pulses trade, we aim to build a more inclusive, profitable value chain that benefits youths and women in both countries,” Masila said.
Key challenges the project seeks to address include low smallholder productivity, weak market linkages, and inconsistent export supplies, which have hindered the potential of pulses trade between Ethiopia and Kenya.
Targeting key challenges in the pulses sector
In collaboration with Soil & More Ethiopia, the Ethiopia Pulses, Oilseeds and Spices Processors and Exporters Association (EPOSPEA), and other local partners, the project will implement a series of interventions to strengthen the trade corridor.
Technical support, capacity building for youth and women, and business-to-business (B2B) forums are some of the key strategies outlined to address inefficiencies and low productivity.
EPOSPEA’s president emphasized that aligning stakeholders will be critical for ensuring seamless trade flows and creating structured market access.
Mekdes Girmaw, Head of Agrifood Systems and Manufacturing at the Mastercard Foundation Ethiopia, pointed to the transformative nature of the project;
“This partnership is poised to empower youth and women with new opportunities, driving sustainable change in the pulses trade between Ethiopia and Kenya.”
John Macharia, AGRA Kenya Country Director, echoed these sentiments, noting that structured trade channels would boost food security while opening up new markets for smallholder farmers and traders.
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