PELUM Uganda, KHEA Launch Caravan to Boost Organic Farming

Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda secretariat, and the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Eastern Africa (KHEA), have launched a farmer’s Caravan 2022 to be held on February 14-18.

Joshua Aijuka the head of programmes at PELUM Uganda revealed that the main objective of the Farmers’ Caravan is to stimulate debate, understanding and appreciation of organic farming practices for further strengthening Uganda’s food and agricultural systems towards resilient and sustainable productivity, better consumer health, improved income and livelihoods for smallholder farmers.

“Furthermore, the caravan follows the overall objective of gaining practical knowledge, skills, and approaches through peer–to-peer exchanges and learning from farmer-led enterprises and all this will be climaxing with the launch of the Continental Digital Knowledge platform,” he said.

Aijuka noted that they will tour different organic farms such as ; Kwagala Farm, Nguru Farm, The Organic Products Market at Abaita Ababiri along Entebbe Road , Balimisa Organic farmers – Kayunga, YARD – Buikwe , Sulma Organic Farm (Sulma Foods) – Luwero, Mlinza Farms at Busika-Kikyusa zirobwe, Kapeeka Agro & Livestock farm, St. Jude Family Projects and climax at Esella Country Hotel Najjera under the theme; ‘Sharing Organic Agriculture Knowledge and Experience.’

Francis Nsanga, the KHEA project manager noted that the caravan will bring together various stakeholders ranging from farmers, multipliers drawn from all the 4 regions of Uganda, and a representative from MAAIF, youths, modal farmers, KHEA trained multipliers and progressive entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector especially those involved in production, value addition, agro-input supply and agro-processing in organic agriculture.

Organic Agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.

Organic Agriculture also combines tradition, innovation, and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and good quality of life for all involved.

Nsanga revealed that there will be a Meet Africa’s Farmers campaign, where voices of farmers shall be gathered.

“They will speak about the organic farming practices they have employed as a result of the KHEA trainings under the KCOA-KHEA project and profile on the Continental Digital Platform and other networks,” he said.