By Julius Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: This revelation was made by Rev. Fr. Hilary Muhezangango, the National Coordinator of Caritas Uganda citing that such discussions would be vital in safeguarding consumers.
He appealed to legislators to work towards rejuvenating and strengthening the food safety related policies as this would compel the government and all Ugandans across the agricultural value chain to ensure food safety.
He added that there is a great need to ensure that the food produced and consumed meet required standards that would save Ugandans from non communicable diseases like cancer and others for the safety.
“As Caritas Uganda, we have established Professionalisation of Small Scale Farmers Academies in three Catholic Dioceses of Kasana-Luwero in Nakeseke, Arua Diocese in Yumbe and Gulu Archdiocese in Gulu and we have so far trained over 300 farmers.” He revealed.
“The intention is to Professionalize farmers, ensure they adopt good farming practices like organic farming and others.” He added.
Representing the state minister, Alex Bambona, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Food and Social Security and the Focal Person for Aflatoxin Management in the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries also emphasized strengthening of food Safety policies as well boosting awareness on the importance of consuming safe food.
He admitted that most times, Ugandans consume food full of aflatoxin. He says, ‘Aflatoxins come right from the gardens because any stressful condition on the farm will increase the rate of Aflatoxin development due to fungal growth.
He suggested that to avoid this, Ugandans should opt for good agricultural practices like mechanization, irrigation, nutrient management, organic farming, proper post harvest handling and others to do away with Aflatoxins.
“For example we have established over 100 units of small scale irrigation in over 60 districts across the country.” He revealed.
He disclosed that the ministry through it’s research arm the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), is finalizing the commercialization of a very key Aflatoxin intervention along Agricultural value chain, the bio-control called AflaSave.
‘AflaSave is a bio control agent that uses non toxic fungi to control Aflatoxin along Agricultural value chain to as high as reducing it by 99%.
This development was reached at during the National Food safety Dialogue, organized by Caritas Uganda and it’s agricultural arm the Uganda Farmers Common Voice Platform (UFCVP) under the theme “Preparing for the unexpected”
The dialogue was graced by stakeholders in Agriculture like (MAAIF, Farmers), Government Officials, legislators, religious leaders, private sector players, Civil Society Organizations, the Media and others.