Stakeholders Call for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture to Boost Uganda's Food Security

Agriculture stakeholders in Uganda are urging for enhanced collaboration among policymakers, researchers, farmers, and other food value chain actors to tackle pressing issues of food security, nutrition, and safety. The call to action emerged during a recent stakeholder engagement on nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Kampala, organized by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA).

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More than half of Ugandan households depend on agriculture, with farmers being our unsung heroes. They wake up early every day and work under difficult conditions to produce food that not only feeds the nation but also contributes significantly to Uganda's economy.

Participants explored practical strategies to guarantee that Ugandans can access food that is both safe and nutritious. Otuke District Woman Member of Parliament, Suzan Abeja, emphasized that solving Uganda's food and nutrition problems necessitates a multi-sectoral, coordinated approach. She highlighted that while agriculture is a cornerstone of the Ugandan economy, supporting millions of households, many communities still grapple with poor nutrition, food insecurity, and food contamination, particularly from aflatoxins.

"More than half of Ugandan households depend on agriculture, with farmers being our unsung heroes," Abeja stated. She observed that many families prioritize simply having enough food over its nutritional content. "No single individual, institution, or sector can overcome these challenges alone. Farmers need access to technology, quality seed, and extension services, while health workers rely on the availability of safe and nutritious food to fight malnutrition," she added, urging all stakeholders to ensure food produced in Uganda meets high standards of availability, safety, and nutrition.

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No single individual, institution, or sector can overcome these challenges alone. Farmers need access to technology, quality seed, and extension services, while health workers rely on the availability of safe and nutritious food to fight malnutrition.

Jackline Namusalizi, Technical Coordinator for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture at SAA, explained that the engagement aimed to identify actionable solutions for improving the nutritional value of agricultural output. While Uganda has advanced in boosting agricultural productivity, she stressed the need to focus more on the nutritional quality of food. "We have made significant progress in increasing crop yields, but we have not paid enough attention to the nutritional component of agriculture. We cannot achieve this alone, which is why partnerships are essential," Namusalizi remarked. SAA is actively implementing nutrition model homes across Uganda, training households in better nutrition practices, food preservation, and safe post-harvest handling. Namusalizi also pointed to poor post-harvest management as a key factor in aflatoxin contamination and confirmed SAA's commitment to raising awareness and collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and other government bodies to prevent contamination throughout the food supply chain.

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We have made significant progress in increasing crop yields, but we have not paid enough attention to the nutritional component of agriculture. We cannot achieve this alone, which is why partnerships are essential.