NAIROBI, July 1, 2026 — Trade and agriculture experts have called for accelerated investment in trade infrastructure, stronger regulatory systems and effective implementation of regional trade agreements to unlock market access for African agricultural products and strengthen regional integration.
The call was made during a TradeMark Africa-organised side event held on the sidelines of the Financing Agri-food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026 Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. The session, themed “Balancing Economic and Ecological Priorities: Trusted and Efficient Trade Systems: Unlocking Investment, Market Access and Regional Integration,” brought together policymakers, development partners and private sector stakeholders to discuss practical solutions for enhancing Africa’s agricultural trade.
TradeMark Africa Director of Trade and Customs Benedict Musengele said Africa had made significant progress in trade facilitation through regional integration initiatives, customs modernisation and digital trade systems, but implementation of agreed reforms remained a major challenge.
“There have been many reforms, but liberalisation alone does not increase trade. We must domesticate and implement what we agree at the regional level if we are to unlock the full potential of intra-African trade,” said Musengele.
He noted that agriculture remains central to regional trade but continues to face challenges such as non-tariff barriers, high production and transport costs and limited productive capacity.
“We cannot trade what we do not produce. Governments must invest in production, strengthen regional value chains and lower the cost of doing business to make African agriculture more competitive,” he said.
Musengele further urged governments to promote domestic consumption of locally produced goods through deliberate policy interventions, saying stronger domestic markets would complement exports while shielding producers from external market shocks.
Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Horticultural Crops Directorate representative Collins Sotiro said compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, food safety standards and certification requirements remains critical for Kenya to expand access to international markets.
“Compliance is key. Whether it is food safety, SPS requirements or certification, our products must meet international standards if we are to access global markets,” said Sotiro.
He noted that Kenya exported horticultural produce worth approximately Sh143 billion last year and stressed the need for increased investment in regulatory institutions to strengthen their capacity to support exporters.
Sotiro added that investments in packhouses, hot water treatment facilities and cold chain infrastructure would improve product quality and help Kenya regain and expand access to export markets.
Export Supply Hub Programme Manager Eunice Ngina Muema said improving market access requires an integrated approach that supports farmers throughout the value chain rather than focusing only on production.
“The market must come first. Farmers need training, certification, aggregation, infrastructure and buyer linkages before production begins. Bringing these services together enables smallholder farmers to access premium export markets,” she said.
Muema observed that weak market systems continue to expose farmers to exploitation by middlemen, denying them fair returns despite increased production.
“If we had policies that clearly guided how produce reaches the market, farmers would be protected from exploitative marketing systems and would concentrate on production knowing their route to market is secure,” she said.
She also called for stronger government leadership in negotiating market access agreements and addressing export barriers affecting Kenyan produce.
“The government should take the lead in negotiating access to international markets because farmers cannot engage in bilateral trade negotiations on their own. State agencies must play their role in protecting farmers and supporting exports,” she said.
Muema further urged greater investment in value addition, insurance and market diversification to protect farmers against climate change, geopolitical disruptions and fluctuating global markets.
The panel also highlighted the need for increased investment in irrigation, cold chain facilities, rural roads, modern logistics systems and digital trade infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses, lower transport costs and improve the competitiveness of African agricultural products.
The experts agreed that stronger collaboration among governments, development partners and the private sector would be critical in building resilient agricultural value chains, implementing regional trade commitments and expanding Africa’s share of regional and global agricultural trade.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article or report do not necessarily reflect those of TradeMark Africa (TMA).
Read the original article at: Trade Experts Call for Reforms to Unlock Agricultural Market Access