Membership of AFMESA is drawn from parastatals and private-sector companies in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia,  South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. New members are being actively sought in all English-speaking countries of the region, particularly from countries which are not presently represented. 

Membership costs just $1000 per annum, which, if necessary, can be paid in local currency through the local FAO office, There is a joining fee of $200. 

AFMESA draws all of its members from the grain marketing sector. A 1995 Workshop discussed Food Marketing Liberalisation---A critical review of experiences to date. In general, it was concluded that marketing liberalisation has had positive achievements in the sub-region. However, transition has proceeded more rapidly in those countries which always had an active private sector in grain marketing. A return to state monopoly marketing is neither desirable nor feasible although it was recognised that some farmers have suffered as a result of changed market access and that they need to be assisted to diversify their production. 

To download the Conclusions and Recommendations of Food Marketing Liberalisation--A Critical Review of Experiences to date. 

To download the full document please Click Here . 

The 1996 Workshop of AFMESA was held in Lilongwe, Malawi in October on the topic of Food Security Reserve Management. You can download the Conclusions and Recommendations , and a brief report of the meeting. 

The 1997 AFMESA Workshop was held in Harare, Zimbabwe in November on the subject of Regional Market Integration and Cross-Border Trade for Improved Food Marketing and Food Security. 

The 1998 Workshop was held in Pretoria, South Africa between 3 and 6 November and discussed different trading options such as forward selling and futures trading. Working Group conclusions are presented here.

The 1999 Workshop on small farmer marketing improvement after liberalization was held in Harare between 4 and 7 October. The report can be downloaded here.

A Workshop on Information for Grain Marketing was held between 20 and 23 February 2001 in Pretoria, South Africa. 

For information about  joining AFMESA, please contact: Edward.Seidler@FAO.ORG

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