Promote Agro Ecology Farming, Government told

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO.

James Isabirye   a maize farmers from Wakiso District has been farming for the last 10 years with the hope of buying himself a vehicle, but the more acreages of maize he plants the more he spends on buying agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and maize seeds from seed companies.

He was told by scientists that planting hybrid maize varieties will give him more produce since they mature earlier.The produce has been promising but later he discovered that he was destroying the biodiversity by destroying the environment and other living organisms in the soil which are vital in soil fertility maintenance.

“The more we apply inorganic fertilizers and other pest herbicides the more our soils lose fertility. Almost every season we are supposed to buy fertilizer to apply in our gardens if we are to get good harvest but our soils are drying up. When we contacted other scientists they advised us to apply organic fertilizers if our soils are to regain its lost fertility,” he explained.

Some of the farmers that attended the Kulika Agro-ecology Dialogue organised by PELUM Uganda 

He, however, knows that it is difficult to access organic fertilizer in huge quantity because there is no company engaging in massive production of organic fertilizers in Uganda.

Isabirye and other farmers were connected to non-government organizations such as Agency for Integrated Rural Development (AFIRD) and Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM Uganda) that are promoting agro ecology farming system, a system which uses Indigenous Knowledge in food and Livestock production

“Through our working relationships with these two institutions, we were taught how to engage in organic farming through our interaction many farmers in the district (Wakiso) are now practicing agro ecology farming system. We were trained on how the system works and many farmers can make their own organic fertilizers instead of procuring the expensive inorganic fertilizers which are very expensive and also dangerous to the country’s Biodiversity,” Isabirye said.

Agro ecology farming

PELUM Uganda, in partnership with other organizations, is pushing for the adaptation of Agro ecology farming system in the country. The organization believes that if the system is adopted, the country will be in position to mitigate climate change which is associated with conventional farming system.

Agro ecology is farming that centres on food production that makes the best use of nature’s goods and services while preserving natural resources.

Robert Guloba, the Program officer Sustainable farming at PELUM Uganda told East African Business Week that on January 16 that conventional/ Industrial Agriculture cannot be a solution to end hunger especially among the small holder farmers in the country.

He explained that the modern system is built around two goals; maximization of production and maximization of profits and for such system to achieve its goals, farmers need big chunks of land. He said such systems are not favourable to farmers in Uganda where the country is experiencing the problem of land fragmentation.

 “PELUM is not against the adaptation of the conventional farming system by the farmers but the system promotes specialized farming system such as monoculture, over depending on expensive inputs; such system is not conducive to our local farmers.Government should put their legal framework which can support our local farmers to adopt Agro ecology farming system which is friendlier to small holder farmers. There is need to rethink agricultural systems that can sustainable feed a growing population and conserve the natural resource base,” Guloba he explained to Environment News Uganda  during an interview.

Guloba observed that Industrial farming promotes mono-cropping in the country a practice which has eaten away the country’s forests cover replacing the country’s biodiversity with monocultures crops such as Sugar cane this has led to Deforestation leading to land degradation and water pollution as result of inorganic fertilizers application by the industries.

Other negative Impacted associated with the current farming system is the Loss of biodiversity due to its habitants being destroyed under the conventional system.

“Uganda is losing vital Insects  especially the pollinators such as bees   due to massive application of herbicides  on some flowering crops , the more bees are killed the more Uganda will be exposed to hunger because the insects plays big role in the pollination of crops and fruits in the organic farming systems ” He added.

Commercial value of agro Ecology

According to the agitators of the system, there is high demand for organic food produces both on the local, regionally and international markets.

What should be done to adopt the system?

According to Julius Musimenta, the Deputy Executive Director AFIRD, government needs to come up with agro ecology policy if farmers are to be supported in adopting the system.

He added that the policy was drafted by the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries but the document is awaiting Cabinet.

“The document is ready but Cabinet has not approved it. As stakeholders in the agriculture sector, we shall keep on pressing the Minister for Agriculture to ensure that the documents are tabled before Cabinet,” he said.

Musimenta added that his organization has carried out research on the system and found that Agro ecology is viable in the country. He noted that currently they are working with farming groups in the central region to practice agro ecology and the results are impressive.

An exhibitor showing farmers packed organic fertilizers from made by AFIRD

“These farmers are accessing our organic fertilizers to apply on their gardens and the produces are good because organic fertilizers feed the soil thus regenerating the soil fertility as compare to inorganic fertilizers which feeds only the crops,” he explained.

A lot of gaps to be filled

Although the Agitators are talking positives about the system, some farmers who shared their views with East African Business Week said there are a lot of gaps which need to filled by the agitators of Agro Ecology farming system.

Patrick Okello, a farmer from Lamwo District told Environment News Uganda that they need to be educated about agro ecology and that some have no capital to invest in the system. This is on top of the country lacking industries that produce agro ecology related inputs such as the organic fertilizers.

He, however, said that   AFIRD has begun producing organic manures from Livestock byproducts and are also planning to partner with local and foreign investors to invest in massive production of organic fertilizers.

On capacity building, Guloba from PELUM Uganda said his organization has been conducting dialogues with farmers in various parts of the country to educate the peasants about agro ecology farming.

“Recently, the organization has been carrying out regional dialogues for agro ecology actors from various parts of the country sensitizing farmers and district leaders about the advantages associated with Agro Ecology farming.The last dialogue was held in the mid of December at the KULIKA Training centre (Wakiso District) for farmers from the central region and before that we held other  trainings in Northern  and Eastern Uganda respectively  and farmers are ready to adopt the farming system,” he said responding to a query from farmers in Lamwo District.

He added that during the dialogues, farmers were educated more about the dangers associated with Conventional/Industrial agriculture.

NEMA's 2017/18 achievements

Statement

The National Environment Management Authority Annual Corporate Report for the Financial Year (FY) 2017/18 has been completed. NEMA has registered numerous achievements in line with the mandate, statutory functions, strategic and approved annual work plan of the institution as described below.

To increase the capacity and strengthen of the institution to effectively deliver its mandate, NEMA established four new regional offices in Mbale Lira, Mbarara and Masindi districts. The opening of the new offices came with the recruitment of new 35 additional staff (20 male and 15 female) to address staffing gaps and meet the increasing service delivery demands. This alone has improved service delivery to and facilitated faster reviews of ESIA documents to ensure timely decision making.

Dr Tom Okurut the NEMA ED

In addition to the above, with support from the Environmental Protection Force (EPF), a total of 59 wetland degradation and 33 noise pollution cases were successfully prosecuted. The EPF has been instrumental in enforcement, investigations, apprehension of suspects and compilation of evidence to support criminal prosecution.

Further still, significant progress has been witnessed in the review and drafting of environmental laws. The National Environment Bill 2017 and National Environment Management Policy, once enacted into Law, will address the gaps in the current National Environment Act, Cap 153; and take care of the new and emerging issues including management of the environmental aspects of oil and gas related activities, electronic waste, climate change, alien invasive species, environmental justice, biotechnology and biosafety, biodiversity loss and offset, payment for ecosystem services, strategic environmental assessment, access and benefit sharing, sound management of chemical and plastics, among others.

Also worth noting is that in FY 2017/18 NEMA contributed to the National Development Plan (NDP11), the Vision 2040 theme and the Manifesto 2016, by giving guidance on strategic EIAs and successfully approving 84.7% of projects for developers. These included; fuel facilities (200), infrastructure projects (194), Information Communications Technology (ICT) (123), processing/manufacturing industries (105), and mineral/mining (62) projects. This is the highest number of projects in a financial year ever approved by NEMA
.

NEMA successfully carried out a total of 1,518 compliance audits and verifications inspections against the planned target of 1,400; hence accounting for a 108% success. The Inspections were undertaken at various facilities and activities across the country, including players in the manufacturing and processing industry; waste management and health care; infrastructure like roads and transport projects; mining and quarrying activities that impact on the green environment. Compliance inspections were also carried out at the countries major hydro-power projects; Isimba, Nalubale and Bujagali.

Numerous restoration activities of critical degraded fragile ecosystem were undertaken and key findings of concern at the time were issues pertaining to site restoration, securing of sedimentation tanks, alien species, biodiversity offset, fish ladder, water stagnation, aquatic weed and soil erosion among others. The Authority has also observed the regeneration of the ecological functions of wetlands such as Limoto, Rwizi wetland systems, and Nakivale lakeshores among others. Restoration of approximately 1000ha of various wetland systems has also been documented.

In a bid to promote Education and Sustainable Development goals (ESD), countrywide environmental education and awareness campaigns were undertaken. These programs were on electronic and print media such as newspapers, magazines, TV and radio. Of which a total of 47.3% were corporate materials; 31.6% for information, education, promotional, and publicity/branded materials; and 21.1% was through the publication of NEMA Quarterly Newsletter.

Finally, NEMA has participated in various regional and international conventions, protocols and conferences. Because of such engagements; a number of officers have been nominated for international assignments; thus contributing to resource mobilization for NEMA through projects and thus strengthening technical environment management skills in Uganda.

World takes a stand against powerful greenhouse gases with implementation of Kigali Amendment

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

The world has taken an important step on the road to drastically reduce the production and consumption of powerful greenhouse gasses known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and limit global warming, with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer coming into force on 1st January 2019.

If fully supported by governments, the private sector and citizens, the Kigali Amendment will avoid up to 0.4°C of global warming this century while continuing to protect the ozone layer. The amendment will substantively contribute to the goals of the Paris Agreement.

HFCs are organic compounds frequently used as refrigerants in air conditioners and other devices as alternatives to ozone-depleting substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol.

While HFCs themselves do not deplete the ozone layer, they are extremely potent greenhouse gases with global warming potentials that can be many times higher than carbon dioxide.

The parties to the amendment have put in place practical arrangements for its implementation, including agreements on technologies for the destruction of HFCs and new data reporting requirements and tools.

 The amendment comes with provisions for capacity-building for developing countries, institutional strengthening and the development of national strategies to reduce HFCs and replace them with alternatives. Phasing down HFCs under the Kigali Amendment may also open a window to redesign cooling equipment that is more energy efficient, further increasing the climate gains.

Implementation of new targets set out in the amendment will be done in three phases, with a group of developed countries starting HFCs phase-down from 2019. Developing countries will follow with a freeze of HFCs consumption levels in 2024 and with a few countries freezing consumption in 2028.

Ratified by 65 countries so far, the Kigali Amendment builds on the historic legacy of the Montreal Protocol agreed in 1987. The Protocol and its previous amendments, which require the phasing out of the production and consumption of substances that cause ozone depletion, have been universally ratified by 197 parties.

The broad support for and implementation of the Montreal Protocol has led to the phase-out of more than 99 per cent of nearly 100 ozone-depleting chemicals and significantly contributed to climate change mitigation.

Evidence presented in the latest Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion shows that the ozone layer in parts of the stratosphere has recovered at a rate of 1-3% per decade since 2000. At projected rates, Northern Hemisphere and mid-latitude ozone is scheduled to heal completely by the 2030s followed by the Southern Hemisphere in the 2050s and Polar Regions by 2060.

 To date   65 countries have already ratified the amendment, with more expected in the weeks to come.

GE Renewable Energy, GE EFS partner to provide technology for the Kipeto wind projec

BY ENU

GE Renewable Energy and GE Energy Financial Services, GE EFS, have partnered to provide technology and advisory support for its flagship onshore wind project in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Kipeto Energy Plc's 100-megawatt (MW) wind power project is located south of Nairobi, in Kajiado, Kenya.

GE Renewable Energy will provide 60 of its highly efficient GE 1.7-103 turbines to the Kipeto project, providing power to the equivalent of approximately 40,000 homes in the region.

The 100MW Kipeto wind power project will provide clean energy to the national grid as a significant contribution to Kenya's Vision 2030 and Big Four Agenda. The project is expected to reach commercial operation in 2020.

Peter Wells, GE's Onshore Wind Regional Director for Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, said:

 "GE is incredibly proud to be a part of this exciting endeavor. The Kipeto project is an important step forward in providing affordable, reliable clean energy to the region, and meeting Kenya's renewable energy goals. We look forward to working with our partners on the journey for years to come."

The Kipeto wind power project, which reached financial close yesterday, is funded by equity from Actis and a Kenyan company, Craftskills Wind Energy International, alongside senior debt from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the United States government's development finance institution (DFI).

Subha Nagarajan, Managing Director, GE EFS' Global Capital Advisory, said:

 "Kipeto represents our ability to identify and connect capital from leading government agencies to emerging markets, and enable construction of GE's wind projects in new markets. The project lays foundation for cleaner and more reliable energy for the local communities in the future."

GE Renewable Energy will also provide operations and maintenance services for the wind turbines.

The Kipeto project was originally conceived by Craftskills Wind Energy International, with support from GE. AIIM and IFC InfraVentures co-developed the project with Craftskills from 2014 until early 2018, executing a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Kenya Power and Lighting in 2016.