In a powerful talkshow aired on October 16, 2024, on STEP FM in Mbale City, Christine Okot from Gulu district and Masudio Margaret from Adjumani district delivered a stirring message on behalf of small-scale farmers in Uganda. The discussion revolved around food sovereignty, environmental degradation, and the urgent need for systemic transformation in agriculture.
La Via Campesina members around the world commemorated the International Day of Action for People's Food Sovereignty and Against Transnational Corporations on the same day as others celebrated World Food Day.
During the show, Okot underscored the unity of small-scale farmers, particularly women in Uganda, in their fight for food sovereignty. She emphasized the challenges vulnerable populations, particularly women and children face as they increasingly face food insecurity and malnutrition. “It is heartbreaking to see our families suffer from hunger while we fight for a better future.” she said. She also noted that public policies have failed to protect basic rights like healthcare, housing, and food, leading to the monopolization of essential resources by corporate interests. “We demand policies that prioritize the needs of vulnerable populations over the profits of corporations.” She added.
Margaret stated that agribusiness-induced global warming, environmental degradation, and biodiversity destruction are jeopardizing food systems and livelihoods. “More than two billion people globally struggle with access to food, with hunger and severe food insecurity affecting 864 million people,” she said, calling for a shift away from corporate-dominated agricultural systems.
The farmers stressed the need for agroecological transitions that align with the principles of food sovereignty. They called for a new trade framework that prioritizes local food systems, protects the environment, and supports peasant economies. Okot and Margaret argued that public policies must back agrarian reform, promote solidarity economies, and foster the historic role of small-scale farmers, particularly women, in agriculture.
They also demanded a binding UN treaty to regulate transnational corporations, end corporate impunity, and ensure access to justice for affected communities. Okot remarked, “We must curb the growing power of corporations in political spaces and multilateral forums to safeguard social justice and peace.”
In response to the climate crisis, they emphasized the importance of recognizing small-scale farmers, particularly women, as key actors in climate change response efforts. They called for laws that guarantee property rights and empower smallholder farmers to sustain their role in the agricultural sector. “We need laws that recognize the contributions of small-scale farmers. These laws should not only protect our rights but also provide us with the tools necessary to adapt to changing climatic conditions effectively.” Margaret quoted.
The discussion concluded with a rallying call to Ugandan policymakers to reduce dependency on carbon-emitting agricultural imports and corporate-driven agriculture. Instead, they urged a focus on building local food systems that uphold the principles of food sovereignty to ensure food security and environmental sustainability in the country and region.
This broadcast resonated deeply with listeners across the region, marking the International Day of Action for People’s Food Sovereignty as a moment for small-scale farmers to amplify their demands and assert their role in shaping a sustainable agricultural future for Uganda and beyond.
Article written by: Laurine Musoki
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