KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Food Rights Alliance (FRA) hosted a national gathering of women in the agrifood system, bringing together over 300 women from various sectors, including agriculture, dairy, and coffee.
The event, themed “Women and Girls Leading Against Hunger and Malnutrition,” aimed to celebrate women producers in Uganda and provide a platform for them to share their challenges and solutions.
Ms. Linda Auma, Chairperson of the Uganda Women’s Council, graced the event as the guest speaker. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the crucial role women play in producing and serving billions of meals daily, stressing the need for a structured approach to agriculture and addressing the gender gap in access to resources.
“The empowerment of women is critical to achieving food security and nutrition. We must work together to address the challenges facing women in the agrifood system and promote their leadership in the fight against hunger and malnutrition,” Auma said.
Women food producers shared challenges such as lack of access to capital and land, market access, exploitation by husbands during harvesting, and lack of storage facilities.
Agnes Kirabo, Executive Director of FRA, highlighted the importance of empowering women producers, noting that they are the backbone of Uganda’s agrifood system.
“Women are the primary food producers in Uganda, yet they face numerous challenges that hinder their productivity and profitability. We must support and empower them to ensure food security and nutrition for all,” Ms. Kirabo emphasized.
“Let us work together to promote the empowerment of women in the agrifood system and ensure food security and nutrition for all. We can make a difference by supporting and empowering women food producers,” she added.
Mr. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Former Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission, emphasized the need for gender-responsive policies and programs to address the challenges facing women in the agrifood system. She noted that women have unequal access to resources and are burdened by unpaid care work, limiting their access to nutritious food.
“Gender-responsive policies and programs are crucial to addressing the challenges facing women in the agrifood system. We must work together to ensure that women have equal access to resources and opportunities to produce and consume nutritious food,” H.E Rhoda Peace Tumusiime stressed.
The event featured panel discussions and presentations from various stakeholders, including women dairy farmers, coffee value chain representatives, and policy officers from FAO and the National Women’s Council.
They highlighted key issues such as limited access to water and feed, challenges with animal diseases, and poor breeds, and emphasized the need for empowerment and support for women in the agrifood system.
“The lack of access to water and feed is a major challenge for women dairy farmers in Uganda. We must work together to address these challenges and promote the empowerment of women in the dairy sector,” said Muhwezi Christine, a women dairy farmer.
The Food Rights Alliance (FRA) emphasized the importance of upholding the rights of women employed in the livestock sector, ensuring equitable access to productive resources and capacity building. The National Women’s Council highlighted their programs to support women in Uganda, influencing policies at a higher level and engaging with decision-makers on their behalf.
“We must ensure that women have equal access to productive resources and opportunities to build their capacity. This is critical to promoting their empowerment and leadership in the agrifood system,” noted Ms. Emily Akullu, National Women’s Council.
The event concluded with a call to action, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to address the challenges facing women in the agrifood system and promote their empowerment and leadership in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.