What We Do - Food Security

Food insecurity is a pervasive problem across sub Sarahan Africa and within Kenya, Uganda and Ghana undermines people’s health, productivity and often their very survival. According to the Food and Agriculture’s latest World Hunger Report, one sixth of humanity, over 1 billion people, is hungry. Agriculture forms the backbone of the economies of Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, but like many African countries, there is not enough investment in smallholder agriculture, even though it has long been recognised as being critical to addressing rural poverty. (More)

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Household food security is the application of this concept to the family level, with individuals within households as the focus of concern (Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2003).

The persistent drought since 2004 is threatening 23 million people in East Africa with severe hunger. In Kenya, 3.8 million people, a tenth of the population, are in need of emergency aid. In northern Uganda farmers have lost half of their crops and more than 2 million people across the country desperately need aid. Aidlink and our partners are committed to working with rural communities to support small scale farmers to become self sufficient and to enable them to produce enough food for themselves and their families.

The Irish Government has stated its priority to address global hunger. The Irish Aid Annual Report 2008 states that, “Hunger is the gravest challenge facing the world today. Irish Aid is fighting it across all its programmes. In line with the recommendations of the Task Force, the Government has declared the eradication of hunger to be a cornerstone of its development policy.”

Aidlink’s food security and agriculture programme aims to support local partners to develop integrated programmes to tackle hunger through increased agricultural production; irrigation and rain water harvesting; farmers groups (particularly marginalised farmers) support to community based extension workers. The promotion of gender equality is central to the agricultural interventions. (More)

Aidlink partners Caritas MADDO, VAD, EMESCO and the Diocese of Lodwar are all involved in agriculture and food security activities as part of their integrated approach to development.

Caritas MADDO’s (CEHEWA) Programme aims to help conserve the environment, improve food security, public health, household income and access to water in Buwunga and Kyanamukaaka in Masaka District, Uganda. Caritas MADDO is working directly with 1,800 households in 24 villages, who in turn train three more farmers each, giving a reach of 5,400 households (43,200 people). As a result of the training and support, 85% of households are using their new knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices including compost making and application; agro forestry; digging of contours; use of organic herbicides and pesticides. These practices are helping farmers to reduce costs and increase production. The farm yields have reportedly increased since the farmers started using the improved varieties of crops and using manure. 782 households now earn more than 3,000 shillings (approximately €1.15) extra per day as a result of improved farm production which results in surplus crops that can be sold.

Voluntary Action for Development (VAD) aims to improve sustainable livelihoods for rural poor farmers in 6 parishes in Namayumba and Masulita sub counties, Wakiso district, Uganda. The household food security project will address problems of insufficient household food production and low incomes among the rural poor communities, with particular focus on women who contribute most of the agricultural labour (75%).

The agriculture component of EMESCO’s Integrated Community Development Programme focuses on improving agricultural production and enhancing the marketing of agricultural produce among small scale farmers in Buyaga county. There is a strong emphasis on strengthening farmers groups and on supporting farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices. The programme is being co-funded by Aidlink and other funding sources, including the Bank of Ireland Staff Third World Group

Since 2002, Aidlink has supported the Diocese of Lodwar’s ‘shamba’ food security and agricultural interventions in Turkana, as part of the Diocese’s wider integrated development programmes. The programme has been co-funded by the Irish Dairy Board and Electric Aid, the ESC Staff Third World Group.

The programme is quite innovative and the introduction of agriculture to the pastoralist community of the Turkana is supporting communities to diversify livelihoods activities and provide an alternative source of food. The Independent Impact Assessment of the Aidlink funded programmes in Turkana pointed to the positive effects of the water, agriculture, health, education and capacity building interventions on the lives of the Turkana. In particular, the agriculture project has improved children’s and household nutrition and agriculture has gained acceptance as a source of livelihood for some of the community. )

Photo: Shambas, near Nakwamuru, 3 hours South of Lodwar, Turkana. Canals that are maintained as part of the Diocese of Lodwar’s Agriculture programme stretch up to 22 kms from the Turkwell river, enabling irrigation and small farming in what is otherwise an inhospitable, dry desert.