Launching the RBA joint project's food loss reduction activities for smallholders in Uganda

9 April 2015, Kampala (Uganda). A one-day workshop aimed at launching the activities planned in Uganda within the framework of the RBAs joint project funded by the Swiss Agency for International Cooperation was organized by FAO. Welcoming remarks on behalf of Mr. Alhaji M. Jallow, the FAO Representative in Uganda were presented by Mr. Charles Owach. On behalf of the Director General of the National Agricultural Research Organisation, Mr. Peter Abong, gave an introductory speech (Full speech here) and Mr Simon Costa presented WFP’s results on related post-harvest losses reduction projects emphasizing that post-harvest losses at small-holder level is an issue that can be solved.

Mr Owach highlighted that "it is important to note that in Uganda, small scale farmers are the main producers in the maize, beans and sunflower value chains. This makes them critical beneficiaries of project interventions for development of the value chains of these commodities. The three commodities ensure food security and incomes especially for the resource poor farmers. This project provides a unique opportunity for the three UN agencies to collect more information on the causes of the losses and solutions to these. The project will provide an opportunity for synergies especially on efforts to improve farmer livelihoods in Uganda. We expect to learn from the different stakeholders, and get feedback about on-going efforts to reduce postharvest losses." (Full speech here). 

Participants from different institutions and organizations working in the country on post-harvest loss management, including from the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries; the East African Grain Council; the National Agricultural Research Organisation and the Uganda National Farmers Federation have attended and contributed in the discussions.

The Project manager, Ms Mireille Totobesola-Barbier together with the national focal point, Ms Harriet Muyinza, presented the activities ongoing and the expected results to be achieved in this three-year project aimed at contributing in the reduction of food losses. Ms Totobesola called the participants and local stakeholders to get engaged in the "CoP on food loss reduction" sharing knowledge and expertise on the Uganda reality. Media have also been invited to attend and participated from : Framers Media; NBS television; The Daily Monitor-newspaper; The East African- newspaper; The new vision-newspaper; UBC television. 

You can access the photo album of this workshop here.

In the News: New Vision, 21 April ; Daily Monitor, April 29 ;

Group photo © FAO Uganda