World Food Day is held annually on 16th October and it is dedicated to tackling global hunger and promoting food security. At this year’s celebrations in Rubanda district, the Minister for Agriculture Vincent Ssempijja expressed the concern on the poor farming methods in many of Uganda’s hilly areas which have led to severe soil erosions. “You can see that people migrate from Kigezi because of Land Fragmentation and lack of land. We are trying to change the methods of productions here.” Said, Vincent Ssempijja – Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fishery. Ssempijja highlighted what needed to be done here in order to ensure maximum agricultural production in hilly areas. “We can use intensive farming, we can use small areas but produce enough for our families and enough for selling.” The Minister emphasized the need to compel farmers to abide by the by-laws on farming practices. “We are going to use the by-laws and the laws that are available to fight this soil erosion. People must abide by the approved methods of farming so that we protect our land.”
At the same function, President Museveni through a speech read by the Second Deputy Prime Minister Kirunda Kivejinja said the country was generally food secure. “The country and the population is food secure 83% said for a few pockets of food insecurity. We have decided to have taxes from agricultural inputs to assist farmers to gain access to inputs at fair prices. We have also decided to restructure NAADS with Operation Wealth Creation to improve its efficiency.”
Local leaders however blamed the government for ignoring agricultural extension services to local farmers. “The challenge we have these days our leaders, the extension workers, the political leaders we are not doing our best to sensitize our people to make sure that the best practices in farming are used.” According to Rosa Malango the UN Resident Coordinator, more people suffered from hunger in 2016 than in 2015. She attributed this to conflicts, droughts, and floods. “250 million people around the world suffered from hunger in 2016. This is an increase of the 38 million people who were compelled in 2015. And the good news is that together we can do something positive and leave no one behind.” Said, Rosa Malango – UN Resident Coordinator.
