Small scale farmers are holding their 3rd Annual National Organic Week

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

Small Scale Farmers in Uganda are holding their 3^rd Annual National Organic Week where farmers especially small holder ones across the country meet and show cases on how  to promote Organic Farming in the Country .   

 Organic agriculture is described as a system that emphasizes environmental protection and the use of natural farming techniques. It is concerned not only with the end-product, but with the entire system used to produce and deliver the agricultural product and many Organic farmers rely instead on natural farming methods and modern scientific ecological knowledge in order to maximize the long-term health and productivity of the ecosystem, enhance the quality of the products and protect the environment.

According to the National Chairman of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small holder farmer’s forum (Uganda Chapter) Hakim Baliraine said that small-scale farmers across the country are subconsciously practicing organic agriculture though need more information on organic markets and enhancing capacity on organic agriculture practices in order to motivate uptake

Baliraine further added that there is a need to sensitize the general public about the many benefits of consuming organically produced foods because of the health benefits it offers to the consumers, he said that there’s also high economic benefits which comes with the farming of organically Agricultural products since the market for such products is available both on the local market, Regionals ones and International   

“Over the last decade, the global production and trade in Organic Agriculture has been expanding exponentially. The unfolding market opportunities globally especially in the developed countries of Europe and North America, shifts in consumer preferences to safe and hazard free organic food, increasing consciousness about conservation of the environment as well as health hazards associated with agrochemicals are some of the major factors for the growing interest in Organic Agriculture” He said.

small holder farmers practicing Organic Farming 

Over time, ESAFF Uganda has been organizing different interventions that aim at promoting seed rights and organic agriculture such as creating awareness and enhancing farmer’s capacities on seed rights and organic agriculture, setting demonstration gardens, farmers seed sovereignty using different approaches. It’s on that note therefore that ESAFF Uganda has organized the 3rd National Organic Week 2021 under the theme: “Go organic, It’s only Natural”

 

During this 3rd Annual National Organic Week (NOW) 2021, ESAFF Uganda has organized different activities such as the National dialogue, tree planting caravan, cookery demonstrations and seed fairs, community dialogues and radio talk shows in different districts.

 The NOW 2021 aims at raising awareness on farmers seed rights and the benefits of locally produced organic food and increase consumption frequency among small scale farmers and other stakeholders and providing a platform for SSFs to engage different stakeholders and exhibit how ecological agriculture systems are a critical solution to the realization and food and nutrition security amidst the climate change crisis.

About, the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) Uganda is the largest small-scale farmer-led policy influencing movement in Uganda. ESAFF Uganda was established to bring together small-scale farmers into a social movement to build common aspirations, learnings and linkages. farmers’ organizations in other 15 countries in eastern and southe