By Ritah Mukasa
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) is working on an agro-ecology strategy that will have a great impact in supporting more sustainable food systems.
Freddie Kabango, the assistant commissioner at the ministry and PHD pioneer student of Agro ecology and food systems at Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) Nkozi says by building ecological practices that free farmers from dependence on external inputs like industrialized seeds, the country will achieve food sovereignty and sustainability.
Also, the strategy will put people at the center of planning and management.
Kabango made this revelation while speaking at the launch of six facilities that were set up at UMU under the Africa Center of Excellence in Agro ecology and Livelihood Systems (ACALISE) project funded by the government and the World Bank.
The facilities include a radio station, students’ hostel, modern soil laboratory, machinery and community training centre.
Kabango is one of the project beneficiaries that saw him attain his PHD.
He said many countries are grappling with unhealthy diets yet they want their people to live longer but the food is also inadequate. It can’t feed the ever-increasing populations amidst climate change challenges, severe land degradation and conflicts.
He says all countries should prioritize sustainable agriculture and food systems that promote stability and resilience in the natural ecosystems.
“There is also a growing concern of social protection and inclusion of especially women, children and people in high-risk areas,” he says.
To Kabango, all those concerns are embedded in the principles of agro-ecology which are about much more than increasing yields and profits.
He recommends that countries develop research agendas that prioritize safe farming practices and social organization of the food systems.
“Research funds should be increased to enable students complete their work in time and laboratories be well equipped with modern facilities,” he opines adding that; “Students should also be encouraged to tap into research opportunities in organizations in partner states.”
Meanwhile, on the global level, a lot of effort has been invested in having agro-ecology as the systematic and holistic approach in the road map for the Sharm El Sheik joint work on the implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Elsewhere, Prof. Patrick Kyamanywa, the UMU Vice Chancellor says, UMU is the only private university that is qualified to host ACALISE and a lot has been achieved including PHD and masters graduates plus state-of-the-art infrastructure.
He said the project promotes sustainable regenerative techniques that increase yields without damaging the environment. That way, humans and animals are protected.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: reddie Kabango, the assistant commissioner at the ministry says the strategy will put people at the center of planning and management. Photo by Ritah Mukasa
