Identify strategies to enhance regional agricultural productivity – Min Tumwebaze

By Godfrey Ssempijja

The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, has called on East African countries to identify strategies that will enhance agricultural productivity in the region that region that is still challenged with persistent increase in food insecurity and humanitarian needs for the past five years.

“We must come together to identify innovative strategies and collaborative approaches to enhance agricultural productivity, improve food systems, and build resilience within our communities. Our collective efforts must focus on empowering smallholder farmers, promoting sustainable practices, and leveraging technology to create more efficient and resilient food systems” he said.

Mr Tumwebaze made the remarks while officiating over the opening of the 18th Annual Meeting of the SFE-Multidisciplinary Team FAO Sub regional Office for Eastern Africa in Kampala.

“The IGAD region remains one of the most food-insecure areas globally, over 30 million people are currently experiencing acute food insecurity, a situation exacerbated by climate change, conflict, and economic instability. This fragility manifests in rising food prices, malnutrition, and a lack of resilience against shocks—be they environmental, economic, or social” he said.

The ADG Regional Representative for Africa Mr Abebe Haile-Gabriel emphasized the need to address the growing number of food insecure people in Eastern Africa through at-scale transformative investments across the 4 betters.

“Countries in the region continue to grapple with the impacts of extreme climate variability, transboundary pests and diseases, conflicts and massive destabilization. The vulnerability and fragility of the social, economic and environment systems continue to make matters worse – agri food and livelihood systems are at the center of this interplay” he noted.

Abebe added that youths, who are the majority of the region’s population can turn it’s natural resources and geopolitical positioning potentials into opportunities and real possibilities if they are provided with the right policy incentives and political support.

“It is important that we scale up innovative initiatives that deliver tangible results by continuously improving effectiveness and efficiency as we deliver on programmes and projects while ensuring accountability remains our standing order. In terms of organizational effectiveness, we commend your approach of organizing technical teams into defied Technical Coordination Units which has undoubtedly contributed to enhanced efficiency” he said.