EALA-ATNR Committee Visits CEFROHT Offices

On 14th November 2024, following an insightful and impactful field visit to agroecology demonstration sites, members of the East African Legislative Assembly’s Agriculture, Tourism, and Natural Resources (EALA-ATNR) Committee, alongside representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), were warmly received at the offices of the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) in Kampala, Uganda.

The visit culminated in a healthy, locally sourced lunch buffet graciously hosted by Professor Archileo Kaaya, Chairperson of the CEFROHT Board of Directors. The meal embodied the principles of agroecology, featuring organic, seasonal, and sustainably produced foods sourced from farmers supported by CEFROHT’s community programmes.

Subsequently, an engagement meeting was held in the CEFROHT boardroom, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, including EALA-ATNR Committee members, FAO representatives, civil society organisations (CSOs), members of the Agroecology Collaborative Platform, academia, and smallholder agroecology farmers from Uganda.

The meeting provided an interactive platform to deliberate on the regional integration of agroecology within East Africa’s legal, institutional, and policy frameworks. Recognising that regional policies enacted at the East African Community (EAC) level take precedence over national laws, participants stressed the need to embed agroecology into EAC governance systems to influence member states’ national agendas.

During the session, CEFROHT formally presented a Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Position Paper, developed through participatory consultations with stakeholders across East Africa. The document highlighted the urgency of adopting a regional legal and policy framework to promote agroecology as a sustainable food system alternative. Key recommendations included the creation of dedicated agroecology units within EAC organs and national ministries of agriculture and environment; legal protection for seed sovereignty and farmer-managed seed systems to ensure equity and biodiversity conservation; stricter regulations against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that threaten agroecological resilience; and the establishment of regional knowledge-exchange platforms to advance farmer-led research. Additionally, the paper called for a regional agroecology protocol under the EAC Treaty and the East African Food and Nutrition Security Strategy (EAFNSS).

EALA-ATNR Committee members welcomed the grassroots-driven evidence and CSO perspectives, acknowledging the importance of policies that empower smallholder farmers—particularly women and youth—while safeguarding the right to food and sustainable livelihoods.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing agroecology within the EAC. Legislators pledged support for agroecological initiatives and policy measures prioritising sustainable, equitable food systems. CSOs and lawmakers alike reaffirmed their readiness to collaborate in shaping a comprehensive regional agroecology framework, ensuring East Africa’s agricultural future remains ecologically sound, inclusive, and resilient.