ACFODE Facilitates the Formation of Women Farmers Food Security Groups to Tackle Household Food Insecurity

Women and farming are two words that have over the years become synonymous because women have made significant contributions to the agricultural sector in Uganda. It is unfortunate that despite their considerable contributions, they still suffer the biggest impact and burden of household food insecurity. Mothers often watch helplessly as their children suffer or even die of preventable plagues such as malnutrition and starvation. Food insecurity has also contributed to high levels of domestic violence in homes as couples struggle to meet all household needs, including food, on meagre resources.

Participants discussing the obstacles to the full attainment
of food security in their communities

It was out of this pertinent concern that ACFODE under the project Building and Amplifying Women’s Voices in Economic and Political Development undertook trainings on farmer group formation for women farmers from the districts of Dokolo, Pader and Namutumba from 17^th to 21^st June. The objective of the group formation is to accelerate the process of the women farmers accessing government programmes, since extension services such as NAADS are mostly made readily available to farmer groups. Similarly, the women farmers can benefit from other networks like District Farmers associations, Non- Governmental Organisations and development partners whose emphasis is agriculture and food security.

Through these avenues, advisory extension services or inputs may be availed to the farmers in order to add value to their produce, thus facilitating the creation of food secure households and reducing on the number of children and women who die from malnutrition and starvation.

The training created a platform for the women farmers to identify the obstacles to their attainment of adequate food all year round, such as; limited access to and ownership of land and other related factors of production, male domination of decision making and marketing processes, loss of soil fertility leading to low production, poor seeds, lack of storage facilities, crop pests and animal diseases, and change in weather, among others.

The women also learned the benefits of working in groups, including; better audibility due to a collective voice, cost efficiency in delivery of services, enhanced experiential learning and increased bargaining power. As a result, 18 women farmers food security groups were formed, with 6 for each district. ACFODE through the project will facilitate the groups to register with the relevant authorities within their districts.

Compiled by:

Nancy Nandudu

Public Relations and Communications Officer

Action For Development