Supporting partner countries in achieving compliance with EU organic standards: the case of Zimbabwe
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
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As part of the FFM+ programme, COLEAD recently supported the Rusitu Valley Fruit Growers and Marketing Trust (RVGMT) and the Pineapple Growers Agricultural Cooperative Society Limited (PGACSL) in aligning their Quality Management System (QMS) and Internal Control System (ICS) with the new EU Organic Regulation (EU 2018/848). This revision of the European framework introduces stricter requirements for group certification, traceability, and transparency, which are essential for maintaining access to EU organic markets. The assignment involved close collaboration with the RVGMT… +Strengthening dialogue for a sustainable agro-industry in West Africa: insights from the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
From 15 to 18 September 2025, COLEAD took part through the FFM+ programme, in the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition (GISE), a major event for industrial transformation in Ghana and across West Africa. The mission aimed to strengthen synergies between public, private and technical partners, while showcasing initiatives implemented through the Fit for Market Plus (FFM+) and AGRINFO programmes. Beyond institutional visibility, this participation marked a key milestone in promoting a sustainable, innovative, and competitive regional agro-industry. The GISE: a… +Focus Caribbean – strengthening agricultural value chains and regional synergies
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
From 23 September to 8 October 2025, a dedicated mission took COLEAD to Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, and Guyana under the Fit for Market Plus (FFM+) and AGRINFO programmes. The objective: to support the empowerment of Caribbean agricultural stakeholders while strengthening coordination with regional institutions and development partners. This field mission also marked COLEAD’s first physical presence at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), following several virtual participations since 2021. Caribbean week of agriculture 2025: a strategic participation Organised… +Flashback 2014 – Tapping into local and regional markets
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Source : Horizons magazine, October 2014 (…) COLEACP helps farmers improve the quality of products for the local market. As the standard of living rises in the ACP states, short supply chains now offer real opportunities for economic development. Local and regional markets are developing into important outlets for the agrifood sector in Africa and the Caribbean. They represent an attractive alternative to export. In many African countries, selling goods at a stall or a local grocery is no longer… +Strengthening local agri-food value chains and women’s entrepreneurship: the example of Casamance, Senegal
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Processing units play a central role in creating added value, ensuring product quality, and enhancing the competitiveness of horticultural value chains. Moreover, strengthening the technical and organisational capacities of small enterprises and cooperatives is a key condition for scaling up the regional agri-food sector and recognising the economic role of women within value chains. In Casamance, training sessions organised through the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme have brought together production and processing managers with a clear objective: to improve… +Strengthening crop protection: the example of Ramsay Agriculture
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD provided technical assistance to Ramsay Agriculture, a small but dynamic farming enterprise based in Mzuzu (Malawi), through the Horticultural Production and Marketing Consortium (HOPMAC). Towards a safer and more sustainable production model The support aimed to help the company put into practice the knowledge acquired during the training course “Developing a Crop Protection Strategy”. Over four intensive days, the COLEAD expert assessed existing pest management practices, trained field staff… +Sustainable products for healthy living: Thanthwe Enterprises (Malawi) leads the way towards regional and international markets
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Thanthwe Enterprises, an innovative agri-food company from Malawi, has benefited from strategic support through the FFM+ programme, aimed at strengthening its competitiveness and structuring its expansion into regional and international markets. This support provided the company with strategic guidance and in-depth market analysis to inform its approach to market entry in Southern Africa, notably South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique, with a longer-term goal of expanding into the European Union. The study revealed the strong potential of Thanthwe’s diverse product portfolio,… +Social sustainability through SMETA 4-Pillar certification: The example of Chisel Investments in Zimbabwe
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit for Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD recently carried out a follow-up mission at Chisel Investments Pvt Ltd, a horticultural company based in Headlands, Zimbabwe. The objective was to assess the progress made in implementing the SMETA 4-Pillar standard and to identify the remaining steps required to achieve certification. Encouraging progress over one year Since the first assessment in 2024, Chisel Investments has made significant progress, particularly in developing internal policies and procedures that align with… +Strengthening the bankability and strategic use of business plans: the example of Coldiron in Zimbabwe
- 03/11/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, a post-training support mission was conducted for Coldiron, a horticultural company based in Zimbabwe. This support followed the company’s participation in the training “Create a Business Plan for Your Agribusiness.” Objectives The overall objective of the post-training mission was to assist Coldiron in reviewing and finalising its business plan so that it reflects its current operations and meets the requirements of financial institutions. More specifically, the mission aimed to: clarify… +Towards better protection against unfair trading practices: Call on the European Parliament to regulate unfair trading practices and protect producers in third countries
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
On 15 June, the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) adopted a significant report aimed at strengthening the cooperation of enforcement authorities responsible for implementing the European directive on unfair trading practices (UTPs) within the agri-food supply chain. COLEAD and the Fair-Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) welcome this progress, which marks a decisive step towards closing existing gaps and ensuring that every farmer and small agri-food supplier, whether in the EU or not, can benefit from better protection… +