By Joshua Kato
PELUM in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Trade have organised the national agro-ecology week of action, which will run from October 21 to October 26 at Hotel Africana, Kampala.
The activities include three events all linked to agroecology practices.
“The three events will provide platforms for the participation of different actors within the agriculture and agroecology spaces,” Eddi Mukiibi, from Slow Foods International explains.
Agroecology key
According to Mukiibi, agroecology can resolve hunger sustainably, and address problems and limitations of industrial agriculture such as increased poverty and malnutrition rates, inequality and environmental degradation, particularly climate change, that hinder hunger and poverty eradication.
Mukiibi says that smallholder farmers, constituting the majority of players in both crop and livestock sectors, have been crucial in producing food and cash crops, and they employ a significant portion of the population, including youth, women and the elderly. Their efforts have contributed to Uganda’s food security within the East African community.
Josephine Luyimbazi, the country director of PELUM Uganda believes that embracing agroecology is essential to guaranteeing food sovereignty, responsible investments, and respecting the rights and needs of local citizens, especially for small-scale farmers.
She says that by adopting comprehensive approaches like agroecology, Uganda’s farmers are positioning themselves as agents of community change, working towards a future where food is abundant, income is steady, and poverty is reduced.
They play a vital role in supplying over 80% of the food in the sub-Saharan region, further solidifying their critical importance in the country’s agricultural landscape.
Far forward
Christopher Magala, a farmer under Slow Food Organization says all that is needed is mindset change because Ugandans have been made to believe that one can only grow food with chemicals which is wrong.
“We need to rebuild the systems and institutions. Like in Buganda, we had leadership from the house, throughout the clan lineage to the king. Today they are not functional. We need to revamp the systems which will take us back to healthy living,” he says.
Luyimbazi says that agroecology should be integrated into all levels of institutions starting with schools and involvement of youths who contribute the largest percentage of Uganda’s population.
“We call for certification of agroecology products which will inspire more farmers to get involved. Climate change is real and needs to be tackled through agroecology farming,” she added.
In addition, she called for better technologies to support the entire agroecology system, regulation of toxic chemicals, incentives to agroecology farmers, and building accessible agroecology markets countrywide and beyond.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION:
By Joshua Kato Agroecology week set……
PELUM in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Trade have organised the national agro-ecology week of action, which will run from October 21 to October 26th at Hotel Africana. The activities include three events all linked to agroecology practices.
“The three events will provide platforms for participation of different actors within the agriculture and agro-ecology spaces,” Eddi Mukiibi, from Slow Foods International explains.
Agroecology key
According to Mukiibi, Agroecology can resolve hunger sustainably, address problems and limitations of industrial agriculture such as increased poverty and malnutrition rate, inequality and environmental degradation, particularly climate change, that hinder hunger and poverty eradication.
Mukiibi says that small holder farmers, constituting the majority of players in both crop and livestock sectors, have been crucial in producing food and cash crops, and they employ a significant portion of the population, including youth, women and the elderly. Their efforts have contributed to Uganda’s food security within the East African community.
Josephine Luyimbazi the country director of PELUM Uganda, believes that embracing agroecology is essential to guaranteeing food sovereignty, responsible investments, and respecting the rights and needs of local citizens, especially for small-scale farmers.
She says that by adopting comprehensive approaches like agroecology, Uganda’s farmers are positioning themselves as agents of community change, working towards a future where food is abundant, income is steady, and poverty is reduced.
They play a vital role in supplying over 80% of the food in the sub-Saharan region, further solidifying their critical importance in the country’s agricultural landscape.
Far forward
Christopher Magala a farmer under Slow food organization all is needed is mindset change because for now Ugandans have been made to believe that one can only grow food with chemicals which is wrong.
“We need to rebuild the systems and institutions. Like in Buganda we had leadership from the house, throughout the clan linage to the king. Today they are not functional. We need to revamp the systems which will take us back to health living,” he says.
Josephine Luyimbazi says that Agroecology should be integrated in all levels of institutions starting with schools and involvement of youths who contribute the largest percentage of Uganda’s population.
“We call for certification of Agroecology products which will inspire more farmers to get involved. Climate change is real and needs to be tackled through Agroecology farming,” she added.
In addition, she called for better technologies to support the entire Agroecology system, regulation of toxic chemicals, incentives to Agroecology farmers, building accessible Agroecology markets country wide and beyond.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Josephine Luyimbazi (right) the Country Coordinator Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda looks on as Eddie Mukiibi, the Deputy Board Chairperson of PELUM Uganda speaks during a press conference for the launch of indigenous organic food festival on October 21, 2024. Photo by Joshua Kato
