FAO supports gov't new sector investment plan

By Prossy Nandudu

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the government of Uganda have signed a new framework that will guide the organization’s operations in the country for the next five years.

Some of the operations include helping government acquire funds to be used in the implementation of priority areas of in the sector.

The five year plan dubbed the Country Programming Framework 2015/19 prioritizes sustainable production and productivity of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and building resilience of vulnerable communities and households to effects of climate change, and food and nutrition insecurity.

The plan will be implemented by FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and Ministry of Water and Environment.

Under the agreement FAO will fund three areas which include integrated food security information system, knowledge and information sharing and the third session is to address natural resources management taking into account climate change among others.

This follows a consultative process that involved different stakeholders who identified the country’s priority areas that are aimed at reducing hunger and malnutrition as well as addressing the challenges of climate change.

FAO is already working with farmers in Kagera basin, teaching them how to manage land such that when effects of climate change strike, they will be in position to withstand them and find alternatives.

The agreement was signed between the minister of Agriculture Tress Buchanayandi on behalf of government and FAO country Rep.Alhaji Jallow at the ministry’s office in Entebbe on Thursday.

Jallow said that they are already working in Kagera basin, promoting good land management practices which will help residents prepare to for eventualities like extreme weather condition.

“We are doing this through awareness creation and introducing new technologies and innovations through sustainable land management,” added Jallow.

The agreement was signed between the minister who represented government Tress Buchanayandi and Alhaji Jallow who represents FAO in Uganda and was witnessed by nine FAO Rome based Permanent Representatives who were in the country to track progress on activities being conducted by FAO in Uganda.

Buchanayandi said that the partnership will help them implement the prioritized areas which are part of the sectors new strategic and investment plan which is being worked on in the ministry.

They visited Luwero district – where one of the six districts where FAO is currently implementing the Global Climate Change Alliance project which is addressing the increasing threats of climate change through afforestation, introduction of drought resistant varieties of crops among others.

 The team also visited Nakawa market, coffee farmers in Luwero distrcts,the afforestation project at Nandere Catholic parish in Luwero and the telefoods programme at Gayaza high school.