Summary:
- Atuyamba encouraged farmers to adopt agro-ecology, which includes practices like organic farming that improve yields while minimizing environmental degradation.
RUKIGA: Authorities in Rukiga District, in partnership with Let’s Change My Village (LCM), a community-based organization, and Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Association, launched a daily LCM Agro-ecology farmers’ market on Monday in Noozi Parish, Mparo Town Council.
This market will exclusively deal in agro-ecological products and indigenous foods.
Speaking during the launch, which coincided with Green Action Week 2024 celebrations held at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Rwabatungu Village, Mparo Town Council, the Founder of LCM, Mr. Alexander Atuyamba, urged farmers to take advantage of the market to boost household incomes, fight poverty, and improve health outcomes.
“We established this private market, which will operate daily, with the primary aim of enabling farmers to supply their produce. Don’t wait for Saturday to purchase food use this market. Additionally, we want to eliminate middlemen, as this is a farmers’ market where they will sell their produce directly,” Mr. Atuyamba said.
He added, “At Let’s Change My Village, we promote agro-ecology, and this market will only receive produce from members growing their crops organically. However, achieving this requires collaboration, partnerships, and support, even from the government. We urge all partners to support us so we can expand beyond Noozi to cover the entire district and region.”
Mr. Atuyamba encouraged farmers to adopt agro-ecology, which includes practices like organic farming that improve yields while minimizing environmental degradation.
“We are avoiding monoculture. By growing different crop species, we promote self-regulation within the farm, reducing pests and diseases. If you nourish your soil properly using agro-ecological principles, you will manage your farm and produce healthy crops,” he explained.
The event was held under the theme “Restoration and Conservation of Natural Forests in the Kigezi Region,” with various tree species planted at St. Augustine Catholic Church to promote public awareness of the importance of afforestation.
Rukiga District Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Zadock Kamusiime, the Chief Guest, emphasized that embracing agro-ecological products and consuming indigenous foods could help combat the rising cases of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
“We have consumed food contaminated with pesticides, which has contributed to the increase in cancer cases. These pesticides are dangerous. Additionally, growing and selling crops together fosters community development. This market is a blessing for the area,” RDC Kamusiime said.
Ms. Grace Payesu, Country Coordinator for PELUM Uganda, who represented the company’s executive director, urged farmers to adopt sustainable agroforestry practices to prevent soil erosion and mitigate the negative effects of climate change.
“Thank you for supporting Alex in changing this village. Today, we are campaigning for afforestation and the restoration of natural forests in the Kigezi region. Climate change has severely impacted us—Kigezi used to be very cold, but that is no longer the case. I believe you have noticed the drought; we last received rain just last weekend, and this is a bad sign. We encourage you to plant more trees,” Ms. Payesu remarked.
