AMICALL is training municipal leaders in modern agricultural practices to help urban households overcome land constraints, improve food security and generate income from small spaces.
Mayors across the country have been urged to promote modern farming methods in their municipalities to increase food production, fight poverty and improve household incomes.
The call was made during a two-day agricultural training workshop at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL) in Kawanda, Wakiso District, organised by the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders’ Initiative for Community Action on AIDS at the Local Level (AMICALL).
The training aims to equip urban leaders with modern farming knowledge and practical skills they can share with residents, particularly in areas where limited land makes conventional agriculture difficult.
Regina Bakite, AMICALL chairperson and former mayor of Nansana Municipality, urged fellow leaders to prioritise agriculture and mobilise residents to take advantage of available opportunities, including farming in small spaces.
Bakite said many people were willing to engage in agriculture but lacked sufficient land, making it necessary to promote modern farming methods suited to urban settings.
She said agriculture could help residents improve their livelihoods, overcome poverty and benefit from government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.
“People should not abandon farming simply because they have small pieces of land. By embracing modern agricultural practices, they can produce food for their families and generate income,” Bakite said.
AMICALL Country Director Eugene Gerald Ssemakula said the initiative was intended to strengthen community development by encouraging urban residents to view agriculture as a viable source of food and income.
He said equipping mayors with practical agricultural knowledge would enable them to mobilise communities to participate in farming, improve food security and contribute to economic growth.
“By equipping our leaders with modern farming skills, we hope they will return to their communities and encourage more people to embrace agriculture as a means of improving their livelihoods,” Ssemakula said.
The participating mayors acknowledged that limited land remained one of the major challenges facing urban agriculture but urged residents to adopt innovative farming methods suitable for small spaces.
They also pledged to promote the initiative in their respective municipalities by sharing the knowledge acquired during the training and encouraging residents to take up modern farming.
The two-day workshop includes practical demonstrations at agricultural gardens, allowing participants to observe and gain hands-on experience in the techniques covered during the sessions.
Participants are also expected to elect leaders to strengthen the association and guide its activities in promoting community development across the country.