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Family Farming organizations request to accelerate the efforts to implement the decade of family farming

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In the framework of the Farmers’ Forum, family farming organizations called for IFAD’s strong involvement in the United Nations Decade of Family Farming.

Rome, 14 February 2020 – Family farming organizations from around the world met at the Farmers’ Forum (FAFO 2020) organized by IFAD from 6 to 11 February in Rome. It was a space that was, without a doubt, a very appropriate opportunity to demonstrate the commitment of hundreds of family farming organizations to implement the United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 (UNDFF), and to ask IFAD to continue strongly supporting this process of strengthening family farmers.

In fact, the final Declaration of the Farmers’ Forum, presented to IFAD’s Governing Council, includes many of the proposals made by the family farming organizations that participated in the event, among them those based on the implementation of the UNDFF.

In this sense, the final document requests IFAD to provide its financial and technical support for the establishment of National Committees of Family Farming (NCFF), led by family farming organizations.

It also recommends that IFAD promote multi-stakeholder processes for the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the UNDFF and work with governments to ensure that national and regional policies on family farming and rural development are consistent with the guidelines and principles derived from the Decade.

It should be noted that the Global Action Plan of the Decade establishes, by 2024, the goal of 7 subregional Action Plans, 5 regional and 100 National Action Plans by 2024, with measures, policies, and commitments in favour of family farming, developed by governments in dialogue with family farming organizations and/or National Committees for Family Farming. It is therefore very important to recognize, strengthen and support the National Committees for Family Farming (led mainly by farmers organizations), as well as other existing spaces for policy dialogue. These are key to the successful implementation of the UNDFF and the establishment of comprehensive and coherent policies, investments and institutional frameworks in the different territories.

The FAFO recommendations document, which was shared with IFAD’s Governing Council and is available here, also contains important recommendations based on key issues such as rural youth, gender, and leadership of women’s organizations, climate change, and the United Nations Decade of Family Farming.

SUCCESSFUL SIDE EVENT ON THE UNDFF

As a final touch to the Farmers’ Forum, a side event was held on 11 February, coordinated by COPROFAM and the World Rural Forum (WRF), dedicated to the United Nations Decade of Family Farming, with the aim of presenting the challenges, proposals, and initiatives of the organizations to implement the Global Action Plan of the UNDFF and make recommendations that can be included in the IFAD’s Work Plan.

It was an event that brought together many family farming organizations, National Committees of Family Farming and representatives from FAO and IFAD.

It highlighted the many processes already underway to implement the Decade at the national, regional and global levels and the commitment that various actors, such as IFAD, FAO, and ILC, have shown. But it was also pointed out that for the Decade to meet its ambitious goals by generating a positive, large-scale impact on the lives of millions of family farmers, equally ambitious financial resources are necessary.

The Decade must generate new commitments from governments in terms of public policies for family farming.

It is also essential to increase communication efforts and to broaden the mobilization of the various actors at the country level. The involvement of the national offices of FAO and IFAD in facilitating and supporting the ongoing processes of creating national and regional Action Plans for the Decade, supporting National Committees of Family Farming, and incorporating the Decade into their Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) and Country Programming Framework, respectively, was widely requested.

More information:

Source: Family Farming Campaign

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MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Know Your Land rights and environmental protection laws: a case of a refreshed radio program transferring legal knowledge to local and indigenous communities to protect their land and the environment at Witness Radio.

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By Witness Radio team.

Introducing a vital radio program that urgently addresses the crucial role of the media in the face of climate change. Titled “Stamping the Law on Rights and Environment Protection,” this program is now part of the most engaging program line-up on Witness Radio, ready to make a difference.

The research–based program, which will be presented in a talk show format, focuses on a single case as they occur in communities. It will host legal experts and scholars to offer legal advice and counseling, and guide communities on steps to take to push back on land and environmental injustices they are facing.

By breaking down complex environmental and land legal frameworks into discussions and practical examples, “Stamping the Law on Land Rights and Environment Protection” empowers communities to understand their rights, demand accountability, and engage constructively with duty bearers. It’s not just a radio program—it’s a platform for justice, empowerment, and sustainable coexistence between people and the environment, inspiring change.

This radio program will feature voices from different local and indigenous communities, not to spice up the program, but to share their ordeals, including how they settled on the land, and how they have sought redress. Community stories are at the heart of our program.

The radio team envisions using the radio airwaves to simplify access to legal information, educate the masses on land and environmental laws, and empower local communities to use the legal information to demand justice from courts and quash judicial institutions. The radio program applies to all local and indigenous communities in Africa to stay awake in the current wave of land-based investments targeting communities’ land and end the degradation of the environment, and to prevent future land forced evictions and maintain peaceful coexistence in both local and indigenous communities.

Witness Radio’s program “Stamping the Law on Environment Protection” is a powerful platform dedicated to educating and empowering Ugandans about the laws governing land management and environmental protection. Through this program, legal and academic experts shall sensitize listeners to key legal frameworks, their constitutional rights, and the proper procedures for acquiring, using, and protecting land and the environment.

In recent years, especially between 1990 and 2023, Uganda has experienced prevalent forced land eviction due to different types of investments, and faced severe effects of climate change, leaving thousands of communities landless, food insecure, and malnourished.

Our first broadcast this Tuesday focuses on a review of the Kawaala zone II case, one of the most significant land eviction cases in recent years. In this case, eviction affected urban poor communities in the name of an infrastructural project, and the project implementer never wanted to compensate or resettle communities whose land was to host the project. We will delve into the details of this case and discuss the implications for similar communities.

Mark your calendars! “Stamping the Law on Environment Protection,” a program will be broadcasting every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10 am to 11 am East African Standard Time (EAT).

Join us on this insightful journey. Download the Witness Radio app from the Google Play Store or tune in live on our website at www.witnessradio.org. Your thoughts and experiences related to land and environmental issues are invaluable. Let’s engage in meaningful discussions and enjoy more informative content together, because your voice matters.

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MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Gov’t Seeks Land to Establish Palm Oil Mill and Nursery in Busoga

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Mayuge — The Government of Uganda is seeking land in Mayuge District to establish a palm oil processing mill and a nursery, as part of its plan to expand the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP) to the Busoga sub-region.

The call was made by the State Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, during the official launch of the oil palm planting exercise in Mayuge District this month. The Mayuge hub — which also covers Bugiri and Namayingo districts — marks the first phase of oil palm cultivation in Busoga, following years of preparation and feasibility studies.

 

Hon. Kyakulaga revealed that the government requires about 500 hectares of land to construct the mill and nursery, which will serve farmers across the hub.

NARO’s oil palm nursery in Mayuge

“Government currently does not own land in this area, so we are calling upon willing landowners to sell land for this purpose,” the Minister said. “The mill will allow farmers to process their harvest locally, creating jobs and ensuring long-term income for households.”

The Minister emphasised that Busoga’s proximity to Jinja offers a logistical advantage, as crude oil extracted from the mill can easily be transported to Jinja for refining.

The Mayuge oil palm initiative is part of a broader strategy to increase domestic vegetable oil production, reduce poverty, and improve household incomes through commercial agriculture. Uganda currently spends over USD 300 million annually on imported palm oil, a cost the government aims to cut significantly once local production scales up.

Oil palm seedlings

Low-Interest Financing

Equity Bank Uganda, which serves as the fund manager for the National Oil Palm Project, is partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture to manage and disburse funds to participating farmers.

Ms Catherine Psomgen, Director for Public Sector and Social Investments at Equity Bank Uganda, said the bank has already supported 896 farmers in Mayuge, Bugiri, and Namayingo with over UGX 1.2 billion in financing.

“We provide financial literacy training, agribusiness support, and ensure that funds are used transparently and efficiently. Through our Africa Resilience and Recovery Plan, we’ve dedicated 30% of our loan portfolio to agriculture.”

Ms Catherine Psomgen, Director for Public Sector and Social Investments at Equity Bank Uganda

Under the scheme, smallholder farmers with 2.5 to 5 acres of land can access up to UGX 25 million at a 10% interest rate — significantly lower than market rates — with a four-year grace period and six years for repayment. The funds are released directly to suppliers for land preparation, seedlings, fertilisers, and maintenance, ensuring accountability.

Local Production and Expansion Plans

A nursery with 50,000 seedlings has already been established in Mayuge and is ready for distribution to farmers. The seedlings, previously imported from Indonesia and Malaysia, are now being produced locally through the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to reduce costs and delays.

The government is also preparing Phase Two of the project, which will expand into Bugweri, Iganga, Luuka, and Jinja districts in the next financial year.

Hon. Kyakulaga reiterated that sugarcane farming will not be replaced but complemented by oil palm, given that only 10% of Busoga’s land area is needed to meet Uganda’s annual demand for refined palm oil.

While enthusiasm for the project is high, land acquisition remains a major challenge. The Mayuge District Oil Palm Growers Cooperative Society reported that over 54,000 planting holes have already been dug, yet many farmers are still awaiting seedlings.

“We have the farmers, we have the funding, and we have the will,” Hon. Kyakulaga said. “What we now need is land for the mill and nursery so that Busoga’s oil palm dream becomes a full reality.”

The National Oil Palm Project is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with USD 76 million, complemented by private sector investment to a total of USD 210 million (UGX 300 billion). The program aims to empower smallholder farmers, create rural jobs, and strengthen Uganda’s agro-industrial base under the government’s Agro-Industrialisation Agenda.

Source: softpower.ug/

 

 

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MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

New! The Eyes on a Just Energy Transition in Africa Program is now live on Witness Radio.

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By Witness Radio team

Introducing a unique radio program that delves into the urgent and crucial role of the media in the face of climate change. Titled ‘Eyes on a Just Energy Transition’, this program is now part of the engaging lineup on Witness Radio.

This investigative radio broadcast is not just about informing, but also about empowering. It aims to foster public dialogues that shape perceptions and influence policy and collective action on climate change. It particularly focuses on the rights and freedoms of marginalized and poor communities, highlighting their crucial role in Africa’s just energy transition.

Mark your calendars! The ‘Eyes on a Just Energy Transition’ program will be broadcasting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am to 11 am East African Standard Time (EAT).

Our first broadcast this Friday focuses on Uganda’s journey in the renewable energy transition plan, exploring the Legal, political, institutional, and regulatory frameworks that underpin the country’s renewable energy struggles.

Uganda lost nearly half of its forest cover in the recent past, especially between 1990 and 2023. It was mainly due to the widespread reliance on firewood and charcoal for daily cooking and heating needs, as well as the expansion of agriculture to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population. Also, Commercial logging and large development projects accelerated the loss of forested areas.

Uganda, like many other countries, is making a positive shift from dirty, fossil-based fuels to cleaner, sustainable energy sources. This transition is not just a change, but a beacon of hope for our planet’s future.

In the broadcast, experts in the renewable energy sector share their experiences and explain the journey of Uganda’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP); inform Ugandans to understand its importance and the aim; they will break down the ETP and Renewable Energy Policy 2023 for people to understand it; and explain how it affects everyday life.

Join us on this insightful journey. Download the Witness Radio app from the Google Play Store or tune in live on our website at www.witnessradio.org. Let’s engage in meaningful discussions and enjoy more informative content together.

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