By Prossy Nandudu
Last year, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian forces at the Hostmel Airport and later captured the town Hostmel the following day, sparking off a Russia Ukrainian war.
Because the two countries were major sources of fuel, wheat, fertilizers among others, countries like Uganda were affected. According to a report by the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) of 2022, due to the war, Uganda has been experiencing high cost of food items especially wheat.
EPRC explained that due to high transport costs, reduced production in the war-torn countries, wheat imports to the country reduced.
They add that in 2020, Uganda imported wheat from Russia estimated at $50m. However, in the first quarter of 2022 that ended in March Uganda recorded no wheat imports from Russia.
Although in June last year wheat imports worth $1.3M started coming in, the government through the National Agriculture Research Organizations embarked on research to find alternatives to wheat.
Some of the candidate alternatives to wheat include sweet potatoes and cassava. These are some of the products that researchers are exhibiting at this year’s World Food Day celebrations taking place at the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) in Mukono district.
Joseph Kitalikyawe a sweet potato breeder and technician explained the advantage of supplementing sweet potato flour neutralizes the gluten, a component in wheat that tends to affect the digestive systems of some consumers.
He added that because they are promoting sweet potatoes, which have a high content of Vitamin A, mixing this with wheat can easily address Vitamin A deficiencies among expectant mothers, children under 6 years and the sick or invalid.
He explained that to get a balanced mixture, it is advisable for bakers to use half of the sweet potato flour and half wheat to make chapati, bread, cakes, and cookies among other products.
Apart from bakery, the flour can be mixed with maize flour to make porridge.
That means where one has been spending for example sh7000 for a kilo of Wheat, they can go Cost of wheat sh7000 sweet flour a kilo.
Why Sweet potatoes
Kitalikyawe explained that they settled for sweet potatoes because they can grow in almost all parts of the country.
The theme of this year’s World Food Day is: “Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind.” Early maturing sweet potato varieties like Naspot8 are being showcased at the event for farmers to make a choice.
Naspot 8 matures within 6 months but harvesting can start from 4months at piecemeal, he explained.
Apart from Orange sweet potatoes, purple sweet potato flour said to be having anti-cancer fighting ingredients is being showcased.
Also, high quality cassava flour used for bakery, pharmaceutical, food among others is also being showcased at the World Food Day celebrations.
According to the United Nations, the theme aims to highlight the role of water for life on earth and water as the foundation of our food.
It also seeks to raise global awareness about the importance of managing water wisely as rapid population growth, economic development, urbanization, and climate change threaten water availability.
The event organised by the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, World Food Program, Food and Agriculture Organisation and the National Research Organisation will be graced by the Vice President of Uganda, Jessica Alupo.
