REDS is an active member of the National Climate Smart Agriculture Task Force (NCSATF) and is fully involved with the various stakeholders for the formulation of the Country Climate Smart Agriculture Programme and the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) work plan to strengthen the National Task Force.
REDS works together with NCSATF to train the government extension staff and Sustainable Land Management project district coordinators in CSA technologies & practices and a total of 545 have been trained. In addition, REDS has collaborated with NCSATF to exhibit the CSA technologies at the National Agricultural Show in Jinja for the last 3 years.
REDS has taken great strides in creating policy dialogue for CA to be instituted as a proven technology for food security and climate change adaptation. REDS engaged policymakers of the Ugandan Parliamentarians’ Forum on Food Security, Population and Development (UPFFSP&D) and facilitated a study tour for them to Zambia to enhance understanding of Conservation Farming principles and practices. The delegation was headed by Honourable Dr. Chris Baryomunsi the Chairperson of Uganda Parliamentarians Forum on Food Security, Population and Development. Other participants included Hon. Aol Betty Ocan; Hon. Muwuma Milton; Hon. Kayagi Sarah Netalisire; Hon. Kasamba Mathias; Hon. Kiwanda Godfrey Ssuubi; Hon. Komuhangi Margaret; Hon. Nyakikongoro Rosemary; Mr Jude Kaliisa from the Uganda Prison Services Department; and Mr. Wamala Musa Buyungo, the Coordinator for UPFFSP&D. The delegation interacted with farmers and farmer groups and discussed various issues including land preparation, tillage, basin management, seasonal calendar, crop spacing, crop varieties and choice, post-harvest handling, marketing and pricing. These policymakers expressed their conviction that Conservation Farming is vital in boosting agriculture productivity and averting the effects of climate change and have pledged to popularize CF as a priority technology to boost Uganda’s agricultural sector.
REDS has also witnessed other policymakers, Honourable Nyombi Thembo, Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as a Member of Parliament for Kassanda South County in Mubende District and Honourable Godfrey Kiwanda, Mityana North Member of Parliament, support and advocate for CA training and implementation in their constituencies and results have shown actual farmer adoption in the areas represented by these MPs.
Posted on Hon. Nyombi Thembo’s facebook page - 21st August 2014