Experts on Climate Change and Food Security, last week converged in Uganda to exchange ideas on how to stabilize good supply, calling for regional cooperation to ensure food security.
The Climate Change Action East Africa (CCAEA) partnered with the International University of East Africa (IUEA) to host the 1st ever climate change and food security symposium and expo.
At the 3-day event, climate change and food security stakeholders openly discussed the impact of climate change, food security issues and food systems with a focus on strategies to safeguard communities in Uganda, the East Africa region from hunger and the world as a global village facing the same challenges.
The symposium theme: “Linking Climate Change To Food Security, Nutrition And Wellbeing” was unpacked by CCAEA and partners who presented papers covering; Climate change perspectives in Uganda, Effects of plastic bottles on climate change, Post-harvest losses and its impact on food security, Food security and architectures, the Gender difference in adoption of Agriculture-technology in Uganda and Leveraging digital platforms to improve agricultural production among others.
The panelists deliberated on Management of aflatoxins as one of the major problems in food security highlighted at the event.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the guest of honour, Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East Africa Community Affairs acknowledged the timeliness of the Climate Change and Food Security symposium and expo.
She pledged to interest the cabinet to see how the government can support the innovations and actors involved so that all contribute to a hunger-free Uganda.
“I commend Climate Change Action East Africa on the one-acre outcome project model and IUEA on the research innovations – the electric tractor and electric motorcycle.”
She commended CCAEA for the insightful and well-informed papers that demonstrated a high level of expertise in climate change and food security.
Kadaga Furthermore thanked all partners who partnered with CCAEA and IUEA to organize the event.
“Agricultural production in Uganda has evolved from the hand hoe to the use of oxen and later, the use of diesel-generated tractors. Oxen produce a lot of methane gasses while tractors produce a lot of carbon dioxide which is among the greenhouse gasses causing climate change,” cited Mr David Kabanda from Center for Food.
He added, “Uganda indeed has very good policies and laws on the environment that would help combat the current rate of environmental degradation. However, the enforcement of these policies and laws is chronically lacking. We, therefore, call for more synergy between the central and local governments in implementing food security policies and strategies to enforce these laws and policies at all levels (National, District and Lower Local Governments levels) and ensure that they are fully empowered.”
Prof. Emeka Akaezuwa, Vice Chancellor, IUEA, said “As firm believers in innovation and offering transformational experience for our students and stakeholders, we are delighted to host the first-ever Climate Change and Food Security symposium and expo and introduce to the participants our ESUS Platform; an online platform where farmers will access quality seeds, access climate updates, hire electric tractors and also track their produce.”
“The symposium has provided an arena for open discussion and knowledge sharing on the aspects of climate change, and food security among the wide range of participants from the Private sector, Academia, Development Partners, Institutions, Agricultural Sector Energy Sector and Climate Change actors and Environment promoters, Government and Civil Society Organizations,”
Also Speaking at the event, Dr Tom Okia Okurut, Executive Director, CCAEA said, “We are on a mission to create an inclusive hunger-free East Africa region by the year 2050 through appropriate mitigation measures on climate change in the areas of food and nutrition security in East Africa. Uganda and East Africa have been experiencing hunger due to acute food shortages.”
He said Food insecurity linkages to climate change don’t emerge prominently; government planning for climate change impact interventions focuses on directly impacted aspects.
“Therefore there is a need to increase climate change resilience and food security awareness in East Africa.”
At the event, CCAEA also launched and encouraged the participants to uptake the One Acre Model that addresses livelihood and nutrition issues in the country.