Stakeholders in Adjumani district last week convened to review the Adjumani District Production and Marketing Ordinance of 2015 in a move aimed at addressing emerging environmental and agricultural challenges.
The ordinance is expected to strengthen climate resilience and promote inclusive development for sustainable environmental management.
The review process has been facilitated by the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative (URRI) together with consortium partners as part of efforts to improve environmental protection and agricultural productivity in the district.
Speaking during the stakeholders’ engagement, the district natural resources officer, Giyaya Charles, noted that the ordinance has been in force for nearly a decade and requires updating to respond to current realities.
“It is now almost 10 years since this ordinance was in place. It was realised that there’s a need to review it so that it can capture emerging issues within these 10 years,” he said.
He explained that the district is currently facing numerous environmental concerns that must be addressed through the revised ordinance.
“So, we can highlight these environmental issues ranging from degradation, the poor practices of farmers that lead to deforestation, climate change that has caused the floods and drought, which are affecting production and livelihood,” Giyaya added.
Mesiku Harriet, senior land management officer in Adjumani district, emphasised that the ordinance was originally intended to strengthen food security and prevent famine in the district.
“The objective of this ordinance is to ensure food security in the district and to avoid famine. Nowadays, our farmers are complaining that their agricultural officers should help them in acquiring the right seeds…. How are we going to harmonise the improved seeds, and how will they last?” she said.
She further highlighted concerns raised by farmers regarding the sustainability of improved seed varieties.
Bishop Mau Kodili Gabriel, a district local councillor, stressed the importance of strengthening enforcement mechanisms within the ordinance to ensure effective implementation at the grassroots level.
“It is very important in this review to give responsibility to the production committee to enforce these production ordinances with the help of the LC1 and LC2 in the area. Parish chiefs by that time were able to generate data.
“They were able to enumerate what a farmer has and farmers were assessed according to whether the animal, or the crop they have,” he said.
He noted that proper data collection at the community level would also help the district generate accurate information for planning and revenue assessment.
Adrupio Irene Api, secretary for finance representing the LC5 chairperson, welcomed the review process and encouraged stakeholders to ensure the ordinance benefits local farmers.
“As farmers today we are for the ordinance. The ones that we think will squeeze us, how are we going to give or add flesh to it so that it becomes useful to us?” she said.
She also applauded the land office for continuously empowering leaders and stakeholders with knowledge that can be passed on to communities.
“I want to thank the land officer very much. I think this is the second time we are for this ordinance. It’s empowering us so that when we go to the community, we normally talk with authority because we have the tools within us.
“So, I’m urging those who are getting the knowledge, let us get out Changed. Let us talk to our farmers out there,” she added.
The review of the ordinance is expected to strengthen climate-smart agricultural practices, improve environmental conservation, and enhance sustainable livelihoods for communities across Adjumani district.
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