Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda and Partners, have revealed that 12th Annual Indigenous Food and Seed Fair on will take place on October, 28 in Kampala.
According to organizers, this is part of the activities to mark the Agroecology Week of Action 2022, But also promote and create awareness for organic farmers and enterprises
Speaking to the media, Dr. Christopher Kyeswa, from PELUM Uganda said Indigenous and traditional food systems have served as a major source of a healthy diet that ensures food and nutrition security, greater human security and societal stability.
He noted that In that regard, they decided to organize the traditional food fair to showcase the significance of Indigenous and Traditional food systems in building resilience in nutrition.
The theme for this year’s food fair is; “Indigenous and traditional food systems, building resilience in nutrition’’.
Kyeswa said that the food fair theme is in support of the African Union and African Heads of State and Government declaration of 2022 as the Year of Nutrition with the theme “Building Resilience in Nutrition across the African Continent in 2022” to provide an opportunity to secure greater continental commitment and investment to end malnutrition in all forms.
The overall objective is to showcase the potential contribution and significance of indigenous and traditional food systems in building resilience in nutrition and generate strategies for promoting sustainable food production and consumption in the food system,” he said.
Other events include The 1st YALTA (Youth in Agroecology and Business Learning Track) the 1st Agroecological Market Systems Expo (AMASE) to take place on Wednesday 26th October, among others.
Speaking as the Chief Guest, the Assistant Commissioner, Crop Production, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, John Ludongokol, assured government’s support to agroecology.
He said that government is still hesitant to legalize the commercialization of GMOs adding that agricultural researchers of National Agrcultural reseach Organisation (NARO) through their research institute NaCRRI have acquired the GMO samples for experiments in the laboratories as they wait for the legal framework and are now at the study level.
Josephine Akia, The Country Coordinator, PELUM Uganda said that for the last 27 years, Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) has been working to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and the sustainability of rural communities through the fostering of ecological land use management.