1. Standards on Cassava and Potato:
set, endorsed and approved
Miriam Kyotalimye1, Michael Waithaka1, Stella Apolot2, Willy Musingizi3
Abbas Adebayo4, Berga Lemaga5
1 Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa, PO Box 765, Entebbe, Uganda
2 Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Plot M217 Nakawa Industrial Area, PO Box 6329 Kampala, Uganda
3 East African Community, Arusha International Conference Centre, Kilimanjaro Wing, 5th floor, PO Box 1096, Arusha, Tanzania
4International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, PO Box Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
5 International Potato Centre, PO Box Kampala, Uganda
5th African Agriculture Science Week and FARA General Assembly
17-24 July 2010, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Cassava and potato are among the major root crops grown and consumed in most parts of Africa. Potential cash earners and poverty alleviation crops for smallholder farmers; cassava and potato also hold high industrial potential for food, feed and industrial raw materials though their value-chain is not fully developed. To enhance the value of these crops, a policy and regulatory framework to support commercialization is necessary. Most countries in eastern and central Africa (ECA) have no or poorly defined specifications for quality, grades and standards necessary for commercial utilization of cassava and potato. Harmonized standards that define quality and safety of these products will enhance the value chain development and boost trade in these crops and related products.
The initiative to harmonise standards
In May 2010, the East African Community (EAC) Standards Committee endorsed the adoption of standards for cassava and potato; an outcome of work that was started four years earlier by the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). The project approach involved development of quality standards and policies for cassava and cassava products in Kenya, Madagascar and Uganda and for potato and potato products in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. In each pilot country, two committees—one on policy and the other on standards—led by the Ministry responsible for agriculture and the National Bureau of Standards, respectively, spearheaded the process.
Why are standards important?
Different consumers and value-chain actors have varying tastes and preferences, standards hence designate a common trading language of product specification that enable high-volume production and trade in a particular commodity.
Establishing a common trading language facilitates fair domestic, regional and international trade and prevents technical barriers
Standards provide knowledge on market specifications, conformity assessment, commercial cultivars and crop production and value addition.
Provide a basis through which plant protection authorities certify, through a simplified form, that the product is fit for cross-border and international trade and is free from pests, disease and disease vectors.
Promote good agricultural practices that will enhance wider market access, involvement of small-scale traders and hence making farming a viable means of wealth creation.
Why harmonise standards?
Development of East African Standards has been necessitated by the need to harmonise requirements governing quality of products and services in East Africa so that technical trade barriers are removed thus allowing cross border trade to thrive. East African Standards (EAS) are formulated in accordance with the procedures established by the East African Standards Committee as per the East African Standardization, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Test Act, 2006 (EAC SQMT Act, 2006).
Implementation of gazetted standards will benefit farmers and industry players who use cassava and potato as inputs.
The Harmonized Standards Development Process
The EAC Standards Committee is composed of representatives of national standards bodies, the private sector and consumer organizations. The draft standards are circulated to stakeholders; the comments received are discussed and incorporated, in accordance with the procedures of the Community.  Article 15 (1) of the EAC SQMT Act, 2006, provides that “Within six months of the declaration of an East African Standard, the Partner States shall adopt, without deviation from the approved text of the standard, the East African Standard as a national standard and withdraw any existing national standard with similar scope and purpose”. East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances.
Achievements
The 11 draft standards that were endorsed and recommended for adoption by the 18th Eastern Africa Standards Committee meeting held May are: EAS 738: Fresh sweet cassava specification, EAS 739: Dried cassava chips – specification, EAS 740: Cassava flour – specification EAS 741: Cassava wheat composite flour – specification, EAS 742: Food grade cassava starch – specification, EAS 743: Cassava crisps – specification, EAS 744: Cassava - determination of total cyanogens, EAS 745: Potato crisps – specification, EAS 746: Frozen potato chips – specification, EAS 747: Fried potato chips – specification, EAS 748: Fresh (ware ) potato.
Implementation of quality and safety standards will enhance the value chain development and boost trade of these crops whose potential is largely untapped.