Browsing by Author "Omadi, Robert"

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    Making Agri-Food Systems Work for the Rural Poor in Eastern and Southern Africa
    (National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI), 2011) Odongkara, Konstantine; Kalunda, Patrick; Akello, Beatrice; Ntakyo, Prossy; Mbilingi, Bwambale; Akwango, Damalie; Kaidhiwa, Michael; Nasuuna, Agnes; Omadi, Robert; Mutenyo, Helen; Biso, Godfrey; Alaso, Agnes
    The overall goal of the project is improved food security and sustainable natural resource management in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, to be achieved through enhanced adaptation of pro-poor agri-food system innovations. The specific objectives and outputs are: i) To identify and promote local innovations and adaptation strategies that work for the poor rural men and women to cope with food security vulnerabilities. ii) To adapt and scale up technology and market innovations for promoting orphan crops that enhance food security, increase incomes and ecosystem integrity in selected areas of Malawi, Kenya and Uganda. iii) To analyze and promote specific policies and governance mechanisms for sustainable agri-food systems. iv) To determine mechanisms for scaling up agri-food systems and sustainable agriculture. Several interventions have been implemented to address food security in the region. However, what is new in this project is that it takes the holistic agri-food system approach, has a pro-poor focus, emphasises ‘orphan’ crops and integrates natural resource, market and governance aspects within the approaches. The significance of the ‘orphan’ crops approach is that they are important for food and nutrition of poor farmers; provide income opportunities for the vulnerable groups, particularly the women; help to diversify the farming systems and spread risks and are usually more resilient to seasonal and climate change. In Uganda, the project has been implemented in three districts, namely Tororo, Mukono and Ntungamo. Among the districts, Tororo is considered a highly food insecure area, while Mukono is considered a food secure area. Ntungamo may be described as moderately food secure with food security being threatened by widespread ecological and demographical changes.