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Stella Lutalo Executive Director board members and partners at the 25th years anniversary celebration in Kampala that already the organisation has secured 10 acres of land for construction.
“Going forward as we change from activity based to projects implementation, we have secured 10 acres of land to set up Agro ecology centre in Mityana District. This Centre will be used to teach farmers agro ecology practices and climate change mitigation measures, “Lutalo said.
“We also plan to strengthen our partnership with government and funders. This is to ensure we deepen research in agro-ecology with academia,”Lutalo added.
Recently while celebrating World food day, farmers demanded for urgent approval of national Agro forestry strategy. This is to ensure sustainable food production in the country under the theme: Agro forestry – a solution to diverse, resilient and sustainable food systems.
Farmers also argued that approval of national Agro forestry strategy would secure long term financing of Agro forestry and ensure sustainable food production in the country.
“As we celebrate World Food Day, we demand government to approve national Agro forestry strategy. This will ensure proper coordination of actors and secure long term financing for Agro forestry in Uganda”. Uganda National Farmers Federation Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Katungi said.
Where the problem lies;
Katungi however revealed that 17 million Ugandans are food stressed because majority of farmers in rural areas only grow food on subsistence scale making food production unsustainable.
“When you look at the status of food production, Uganda is food stressed and insecure from hunger. This is due to limited farming practices to increase food production,” Katungi said.
He noted that Uganda population has been growing above 3% over the past decade. However, agriculture sector has oscillated between 1.5% to 4.3%. He says this has undermined efforts to effectively provide food for the population.
“The Ugandan food system is a subject to number of shocks. These shocks effect climate change, pests and diseases, weak seed system, knowledge and skills deficiency”. Clement Okia Country Representative of Icraf said.
He added that Covid 19 pandemic has also disrupted food supply chains and thus impacted livelihood negatively.
James Walusimbi Country Manager Vi Agro forestry noted that for many years, they approved Agro forestry as a potential in building resilience of good systems to climate change shocks but it has been ignored by government in addressing food shortage.
” Agro forestry contributes to increased diversified food production, improved biodiversity, sustainable ecosystems services and improved livelihood of land users,”Walusimbi said.
Shadow minister for agriculture Gonahasa Francis urged the government to double agriculture budget saying this will spur sustainable food production.
” This government has failed to support farmers. For years government to increase agriculture sector budget to 10% as per Maputo declaration. There is no political will to increase agriculture funding hence support to farmers,” he said.
Check also;
- Farmers Demand Special Funding To Boost Agriculture Sector
- Ndovu Motors To Promote Mechanization Of Agriculture
- Barriers for Women in Agriculture
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
