EALA Pushes for Regional Agroecology Law as Food Systems Pressure Mounts

Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) want the region to adopt a law that protects farming systems that work with nature rather than against it. During an agroecology systems field visit in Mukono on Saturday, the legislators said the time had come for a coordinated, legally backed transition to agroecology to protect smallholder farmers, rebuild degraded soils, and secure East Africa’s food future.

This call comes at a time when nature-based farming systems across Africa are under threat from longer dry spells, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and declining soil fertility. These challenges, alongside rising food prices and the high cost of synthetic farm inputs, are making it difficult for families to feed themselves and for smallholder farmers to earn a stable income.

“Across rural communities, small farmers say each season has become a gamble. Rains no longer follow their usual patterns, and the soils they once trusted are losing life,” said Gatpan Thoar, the committee chairperson, who delivered the statement on behalf of the team. “With food prices climbing and dietary diversity shrinking, many households now rely on fewer and less nutritious foods.”

Thoar added that EALA’s push for agroecology is based on growing evidence that the farming approach can help the region escape this cycle. “Agroecology promotes practices like mixed cropping, natural pest control, composting, soil regeneration, and farmer seed saving. These methods reduce dependence on costly industrial inputs and improve long-term soil fertility,” he stated.

Agroecological farms are also believed to perform better during droughts, support diverse diets, and strengthen community resilience during climate shocks. He noted that such practices help preserve indigenous crop varieties naturally adapted to local conditions. However, despite these benefits, agroecology remains largely unsupported, as most regional policies favour input-heavy industrial farming models. As a result, agroecological initiatives remain scattered, underfunded, and overshadowed.

According to Thoar, EALA members reviewed the East African Seed and Plant Varieties Bill, 2025, to ensure that it aligns with agroecological principles rather than restricting farmer-managed seed systems or threatening biodiversity. “Members observed simple, affordable techniques used by local farmers to restore soils, conserve seeds, and diversify crops,” he said. “These firsthand experiences strengthened their resolve to pursue a regional agroecology policy and law.”

The proposed legally binding agroecology framework is expected to safeguard community seed systems, protect indigenous crop varieties, and reduce reliance on expensive chemical inputs. It will also encourage ecological soil restoration, direct government funding towards agroecology training and research, and strengthen local food markets and nutrition. “Most importantly, it would give Partner States a shared roadmap for transitioning from harmful, input-heavy methods to regenerative and farmer-centered systems,” Thoar added.

During the engagement, legislators received technical briefings, examined regional seed governance, and interacted with farmers and civil society groups led by the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT), as well as other regional agroecology partners. The session attracted regional organisations including Seed Savers Network Kenya, TABIO-Tanzania, PELUM-Uganda, ESAFF-Uganda, AFSA, Slow Food, ACSA, FIAN-Uganda, CONSENT, SEATINI, Mukono District authorities, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

The stakeholders emphasized that agroecology is not merely an environmental issue but a foundation for food sovereignty, climate resilience, and rural economic recovery. They urged EALA to use its legislative authority to formulate an Agroecology Policy and Law that prioritizes biodiversity, farmer knowledge, and ecological health in the region’s development agenda.

Dr. David Kabanda, the Executive Director of CEFROHT, appealed to the legislators to enact laws and policies that would enable a smooth transition to agroecology. He warned that without decisive action, the region risks further soil degradation, worsening rural poverty, and the loss of traditional seeds and farming knowledge passed down for generations.

Jane Nansubuga, proprietor of Nansubuga Farm, stressed that agroecology is not only viable but profitable. As a practitioner, she said, “Agroecology gives us freedom. It reduces our costs, protects our soils, and helps us feed our families without depending on expensive chemicals.” Stakeholders believe the session has laid a strong foundation, and EALA must now turn this momentum into a binding law to secure agroecology at the heart of East Africa’s future.