Stakeholders call for modern, sustainable solutions to combat food insecurity

Stakeholders in the food and agriculture sector have urged the implementation of sustainable and modern strategies to eliminate food insecurity in the country.

These appeals were made during a High-Level National Policy Dialogue for World Food Day at the Imperial Royale Hotel.

The event gathered various stakeholders to explore solutions for achieving food security and fostering a sustainable future for all Ugandans.

During the dialogue, Agnes Kirabo, the executive director of Food Rights Alliance (FRA) Uganda, raised concerns about the troubling rates of malnutrition and obesity among children, despite Uganda's reputation as a food-rich region.

"It is shameful that a country like Uganda, which has the potential to feed the entire continent, continues to struggle with hunger and food insecurity," she stated.

Kirabo stressed the importance of reflecting on food behaviors, the choices Ugandans make regarding food, and practices at different levels within the food sector.

"Food is not merely the solid item on your plate; it encompasses much more. Food represents your health, safety, growth, financial stability, and peace of mind. If we focus on our mindset, everything else will fall into place," Kirabo noted.

Speaking on behalf of FAO Uganda, Dr. Charles Owach, Dr. Charles Owach, highlighted that climate change is greatly affecting agriculture.

He emphasized the importance of pursuing sustainable solutions to tackle these challenges and guarantee the right to food for everyone.

"We need an integrated and holistic approach that cuts across policy cuts across community and also cuts across sectors various sectors. We need to rethink on how we produce how we distribute and how we utilize food we need to seriously reflect together and adopt an agri-food systems approach if we are to ensure diversity in food for the present but also for the future generations the entire agri-food system from the way we farm the way we fish the way we process food and how it is transported and consumed needs to be planned and managed well," he said.

He added, "Transformation of food and agriculture systems is essential to ensuring that food is abundant food is affordable, and food is nutritious enough for all, and to fulfilling the fundamental rights to food."

In his message, Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), conveyed the government's dedication to enhancing income security to address food insecurity.

"We believe that when we have income security, we have the right to choose what we eat. For those of us in the agricultural sector, this day is particularly significant, as we are at the forefront of food production," he stated.

Tumwebaze pointed out that this year's World Food Day theme-"Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future", aligns seamlessly with the government's national development objectives.

"It highlights the profound truth that food is not only a basic human right, but also a key pillar for a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future. It calls upon all of us, as governments, as farmers, private sector, actors, civil society, and all citizens, to unite in ensuring that every Ugandan has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food," Tumwebaze noted.

He further mentioned that the government is committed to increasing investments in smart agriculture to lessen the effects of climate change and secure our food systems for future generations.

"Erratic weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and floods are already affecting our farmers and threatening food production. This is why the government is steadfast in its commitment to scaling up investments in driving smart agriculture, in irrigation, and sustainable water use," he said.

During the dialogue, Dr. Paul Mwambu, the Commissioner for Crop Inspection and Certification at MAAIF, stressed the importance of tackling malnutrition, particularly in at-risk populations.

"We must address malnutrition, especially among vulnerable groups. Producing more food is not enough. It must be nutritious and safe," he said.

Current statistics indicate that nearly one-third of children under five in Uganda experience stunting due to food insecurity.

The data reveals that the prevalence of stunting rises with age, reaching its highest point at 37 percent among children aged 18 to 35 months.

Additionally, stunting is more common in rural areas (30 percent) compared to urban areas (24 percent), with some differences noted across regions