Organizers addressing the media today
PELUM Uganda in collaboration with the Government of Uganda (the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives) and on behalf of the National Agroecology Actors on Monday October 23, 2023 announced that the National Agroecology Week of Action (AWA) 2023 will run g from today, 23rd to 27th October 2023 at Hotel Africana.
The AWA will be streamed live on the different online platforms.
The 2023 National Agroecology Week of Action has 3 specific events organized under various themes to engage the public. The events are ; The 5th National Agroecology Actors’ Symposium (NAAS) to be held on Tuesday 24th October under the theme “Accelerating A Just, Inclusive and Resilient Food System Through Agroecology”; The 2nd Agroecological Market Systems Expo (AMASE) scheduled for Wednesday the 25th October, under the theme “Advancing Agroecological Entrepreneurship and Synergies for Sustainable Market Development,” and the 13th Annual Indigenous and Traditional Food and Seed Fair to be held from Thursday 26th – Friday the 27th October 2023 under the theme “Nurturing healthy, nutritious and resilient food systems for all’’.
The 3 events will provide platforms for participation of different actors within the Agriculture and Agroecology spaces. The live stream sessions shall be relayed on PELUM Uganda’s online platforms i.e. X (Twitter), YouTube, and Zoom.
This year’s Agroecology Week of Action presents unique opportunities for the public to gain access to the various cuisines from the different regions of Uganda.
The public is invited to come and taste traditional foods like Malakwang, Malewa, Lowombo, Akuring, and Ariwara among others.
Further to note is that simple Agroecological technologies, practices and Indigenous Seeds among others shall be showcased and traded by our farmers.
The AMASE will provide a special opportunity for the public to interact with a very wide range of renown businesses and entrepreneurs who have built resilience in Advancing Agroecological businesses and markets amidst the very dynamic private sector space. All these are free of charge.
The organizers say their mandate and core business as the National Agroecology Actors together with the Government is not only to scale up but also to scale out and scale deep Agroecology in Uganda by addressing the concerns of Agroecological Production and Market Systems; Institutional and Policy frameworks; and positive mindset and behavioral adjustments through ensuring availability of adequate supportive atmosphere.
Agroecology as defined by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is a holistic and integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agriculture and food systems. It seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans, and the environment while also addressing the need for socially equitable food systems within which people can exercise choice over what they eat and how and where it is produced.
Scaling up of Agroecology in Uganda is critical towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) most especially the SDG 2 on Zero Hunger that requires a transition towards more sustainable food systems with more socio-economic benefits and with less environmental consequences.
Thee above events are expected to bring together policy makers, technical staff of Government, farmers, private sector actors (Agroecological input dealers, producers, certification bodies, processors, business service providers), financial institutions, media, research institutions, youth, development partners, civil society, and the academia.