Mugabe R
Agricultural advisory service providers, represented by Mr. Tabaro Denis Natukunda, Executive Director of the African Institute for Culture and Ecology (AFRICE) project, are urging the government, specifically the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, to revisit the National Seed Policy of 2018. This call was made during a workshop held on Tuesday, March 12th, 2024, at the Igaaniriro Rya Kubumbu demonstration farm and seed bank in Kikarara Parish, Bwambara Sub County, Rukungiri District.
The AFRICE project operates demonstration farms not only in Kikarara Parish but also in Burisa, located in the Oil region of Burisa District, and in Kalangala District, encompassing Bugara and Buvuma Islands in Lake Victoria. These farms are equipped with trainers, seedlings, and storage facilities to assist farmers in adopting traditional farming practices, including the cultivation of climate-resilient crops and the production of homemade pesticides and manure for healthier food production.
Tabaro Denis Natukunda expressed concerns regarding the provisions of the National Seed Policy of 2018, particularly regarding patent rights that grant exclusive production, supply, and control privileges to individual companies. He emphasized that such provisions could restrict farmers’ freedoms and called upon the government to review the policy promptly.
He also advised the government to direct extension workers, particularly under the Paris Development Model program, to collaborate with voluntary organizations in promoting traditional farming methods. This, he argued, would help restore a resilient environment that is currently under threat due to the dominance of hybrid crops and the overreliance on manufactured pesticides and fertilizers.
Kamusiime Scovia Kamara, the Bwambara Sub County woman Councilor representing Kikarara Parish, commended the AFRICE project for its efforts in championing environmental conservation, food storage, and healthy eating habits. She mentioned that Bwambara Sub County had enacted bylaws aimed at curbing practices such as bush burning, excessive pesticide use, and deforestation to preserve the environment.
Silver Zikanshanga, the Chairperson of LC1 Nyakatembe Cell in Kikarara Parish, expressed gratitude, stating that the AFRICE project had significantly improved food storage and eating habits in the area.
Additionally, Kamusiime Jennifer, a member who attended a workshop sponsored by the African Institute for Culture and Ecology in Zimbabwe in September 2023, encouraged fellow members to embrace activities that promote healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability.
