Partnership for Market Access; towards a sustainable market-oriented horticultural sector in Uganda

The Netherlands has taken the initiative for a Partnership on Market Access through meeting quality standards for food and agricultural products, for which a number of countries showed interest. With the respective governments of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda en Zambia it has been agreed to start a partnership programme on horticulture, whereby in Zambia the first priority will be given to phytosanitary issues. The main objective of the partnership initiative is to improve access of horticultural products to the markets of Europe and other industrialized countries by enhancing cooperation in the field of quality standards, the natural environment and phytosanitary issues. The ultimate aim is to increase the global competitiveness of horticulture sector in developing countries thereby contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable production and consumer concerns