In the wake of the decline of formal economies in Africa and the structural adjustment programs intended to set the basis for future economic growth, agricultural production within African cities including those in Uganda has become a much more prevalent activity.

A small proportion of this production is purely intended for sale in urban markets but the majority of it is intended for home consumption.

This is the thinking of experts who formed an organisation Hunger Fighting in Uganda (HFU) with the aim of empowering urban dwellers who are living in the eleven cities created across the country by engaging in urban agriculture as source of income and food security for their families

Background

Mr Emmanuel Aturinda the director of none governmental organisation (NGO) HFU explaining the concept of urban dwellers in cities of Uganda during a conference held on November 10, 2022 explained that since the country is transforming in urbanisation with growing population, it is good for the people to engage in agriculture.

He noted that in 2012 a team of experts ranging from agricultural scientists, University Professors, economists among others in 2012 formed the organisation where a team of trainers went sensitizing city dwellers about the importance of growing Mushrooms in the backyard gardens.

Urban dwellers in cities such as Arua, Mbale, Fort Portal, Mbarara, Jinja and Kampala in areas of Wakiso district others were trained.

The team used a model of producing 320kg of Oyster mushroom which was processed and supplied to 490 households.

This worked out very well and some families began growing mushrooms as food security and this led to the first Edible Cities conference in 2015.

The organisation is dependable on its membership with approximately 150 members where each member is required to pay Shs70, 000 per annum.

The team also solicits funds from organisation such as World Food Programme were they are currently teaming up to supply food ration to refugees in Kyangweli, Nakivale and Kasongo refugee settlements in Western Uganda

They are also collaborating with Food and agricultural Organisation (FAO) were they are supplying seed grown in semi-arid lands in a school feeding arrangement in schools in Kotido and Abim. 

Seed of crops such as simsim, green gram, millet, sorghum and vegetables such as cowpea seed, cabbages and tomatoes are supplied

The current strategies for urban city dwellers agriculture

In the 2022 edible cities conference with the theme “promoting urban agriculture to enhance food nutrition security in Uganda’s cities” Aturinda explained that the word edible Cities means a city that is able to produce food for consumption in an urban setting.

This includes embracing technologies such as use of aquaponics for growing fodder for animals, kitchen gardening in growing vegetables, growing Irish potatoes in sacks among others.

Others aspects includes keeping the environment in cities clean by recycling waste arising from agricultural products. A case in point is Kampala Capital City Authority recycling food waste as manure.

The minister of agriculture Frank Tumwebaze who opened the conference noted that it is a fact populations are growing in African Cities such as Lagos in Nigeria, Nairobi in Kenya  and all Uganda’s cities including Kampala .

This means there is need for urban dwellers to engage in food production not only in urban setting but in the rural areas where there is enough farm land.

Giving the statistics, he notes that about 65%of Uganda’s arable is not fully utilised and this calls for adoption of improved resilient seed developed by crop scientists.

He said for this succeed to farmers and people living in urban areas must be empowered by availing them financial support inform of loans.

He noted that his ministry has been lobbying for farm tools including tractors which will be supplied to farmers to use as groups

He also called upon environmentalists to lobby developed countries for Africa to be part of trade in carbon foot print because the Continent is sufficient to provide clean air but which must be done by the farmers involved in growing trees to be paid ably.

Food grown for nutrition

Giving the statistical data Ms Josette Sanyu Zziwa a food nutritionist working with Hunger for Uganda noted that many children living in Cities are stinted and this accounts for 2.4 million in the entire country.

The children below the age of five who wasted account 6% and 14% are underweight coupled with those produced under 2,5kg. Such conditions according to her lead to brain waste.

The rate for anaemia for child bearing mothers is 16.7% and 7% of these women lack iron and Vitamin A food nutrient. Those that suffer ulcers are 10.5% and worst hit region is Western Uganda

The children who lose lives out of the above conditions are rated 567,621 annually therefore this calls for production of foods rich in Vitamin, Iron and Zinc especially those processing baby foods.

Urban food Farming

Dr Emma Naluyima an urban mixed farmer along Entebbe Road giving her experience encouraged the youth to engage into urban farming because it is a viable business.

She told the gathering that she has one acre land which she has apportioned for pig rearing, East Africa Highland (Matoke) growing, rabbit rearing and aqua fish farming.

It is her contention that as long as an urban farmer gives the right feed to these animal which include grain meals, maggot meal, and fodder grown using aquaponics technology, there is enough profit to be reaped.