Thumbnail Image

Establishment of a New Analytical Laboratory at a Food Production Facility in Dekemhare City, Eritrea - TCP/ERI/3609

Year of publication 2020

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 11

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Food safety and quality are essential for food security, public health and economic development. Improving laboratory-testing capacity contributes to increasing the supply of safe, wholesome high-quality food by reducing the impact of food-borne diseases that can cause illness and death. Food quality analysis and management also help to stem the economic consequences of food-borne illness and food insecurity, contributing to a healthier, more prosperous and productive nation. Ensuring the safety and quality of foods also promotes international trade and access to new markets, which provides a means to strengthen livelihoods all along the value chain, alleviating poverty and hunger. Eritrea is a young East African country, gaining independence in May 1991 after a 30-year war with Ethiopia. The development of industry in Eritrea, including the food industry and laboratories, dates back to the Italian colonial period (1890-1941), when Eritrea had a relatively prosperous economy. However, during British rule (1941-1952) and the Ethiopian administration that followed, a lack of investment led to a deterioration of its infrastructure. Eritrea’s current industrial base is made up of numerous small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the Government is making a significant effort to increase their contribution to the national economy – including private-sector food production and processing enterprises. However, Eritrea’s Government is facing several macro-economic challenges, which are affecting the operations of various ministries including Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health. As a result, preventive activities such as those related to food safety receive less priority than curative medical services. This has seriously affected the ministries’ operation and monitoring of food safety analysis. The national food control system needs an urgent review and redesign. Establishment of basic operational and management systems, including training and capacity building of laboratory staff and laboratory accreditation to international standards, are needed to strengthen this system and enhance its capacity for ensuring that safe and nutritiousfood reaches consumers. Fisheries and agriculture are important economic sectors that have good potential for producing export earnings with relatively low levels of investment. However, ever-increasing international food safety standards and trade regulations are seriously hampering the export of agricultural products and hence the country's efforts to gain market access.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Improving Nutrition in Eritrea: Agro-Diversity Nourishing Communities - TCP/ERI/3704 2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    In Eritrea, productivity at farm level has historically been low because of the predominance of subsistence farming, unpredictable rainfall and drought, and lack of modern technologies and inputs Food production has not kept pace with the needs of the country The Government of Eritrea has given food security and nutrition a high priority in its development agenda, and has been extending support and subsidies to farmers through a number of measures, including the implementation of a programme called the Minimum Integrated Household Agricultural Package ( providing households with a series of inputs and services Against this background, the main objective of the project was to improve the nutrition status of vulnerable people in the country in two regions, Maekel and Anseba by developing locally adapted strategies and tools that supported community based nutrition interventions This included increasing the effectiveness of nutrition outcomes from the MIHAP programme.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Assisting vulnerable households affected by El Niño-induced drought in Eritrea - TCP/ERI/3605 2019
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Eritrea is repeatedly exposed to natural and human-induced disasters, especially drought and floods. During 2015/16 the climatic situation was exacerbated by the impact of the El Niño-induced drought, in particular in the subzoba(subregions) of Hagaz, Geleband Adi-Tekelezanin Ansebaregion, which severely impacted the lives and livelihoods of pastoralists and agropastoralistsin these areas. Against this background, the project aimed to provide emergency support to enable smallholder farming households to resume agricultural production and start rebuilding their asset bases.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Ensuring Sustainable Apiculture In Eritrea - TCP/ERI/3502 2019
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Beekeeping in Eritrea is recognized as a widely practised livelihood activity. Honeybees within the country are abundant and disease-free, and there are significant local and informal export markets for honey. But beekeeping has the potential to be even more cost-effective and exported worldwide. In order to sustainably strengthen beekeeping in Eritrea, this project was implemented to build self-sustainability by diversifying the bee-product market, creating awareness about beekeeping and building beekeepers' capacities, ultimately improving food security for the rural population.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.