Empirical evidence indicates that small scale farming produces relatively higher than large scale industrial agriculture for every unit of land, and is more ecologically and environmentally sound. And yet the voices of small scale farmers are largely underrepresented in policy debates.
Washarika is intended to grapple with these initial questions. We seek to set in place plans to establish an organization that will grow to firmly facilitate dialogue among small farmers, to ensure small scale farmer’s voices are represented at policy level, that their voices are heard in institutions of government charged with their issues and among international bodies that strive to improve small scale farming. Ensuring that conditions are conducive and supportive to small scale farmers is our mission.
Advancing
Small Scale Farming
Uganda’s small scale farmers produce most of Uganda’s food and employ over 85% of Uganda’s work force.
As a consequence policies intended to address the issues that small scale farmers encounter too often end up at odds with their reality, and the issue that adversely affect their production potential remain unaddressed.
- How can we bridge the gap between policy and the lived experiences of Uganda’s small scale farmers?
- How can we ensure that small scale farmers freely and openly articulate their lived experiences?
- Through what channels, and through what means, might we bring small scale farmers together to articulate the issues that they encounter?
- What possibilities exist for small scale farmers to address the issues that affect their livelihood dreams?