The fifth cohort of learners has kicked off their 3-month course of study at the Agroecology School for Journalists and Communicators, commencing with an in-person workshop held at Esella Country Hotel -Kira on Friday.
11 journalists and communicators from various regions across Uganda were selected for this cohort, poised to explore the dynamics of the agroecology movement for more informed and objective reporting about the sector.
According to Ms. Nancy Mugimba, the National Coordinator for ESAFF (Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum) Uganda, this initiative is geared towards equipping journalists and communicators with right and adequate information to shape public opinion on Agroecology.
“We invited you into this space so that we have an informed group of communicators who can clarify the issues that are trending in the area of agroecology. We need people who are convinced that healthy food systems are worth defending. When you promote agroecology, your audiences – the population – will get interested in discerning the impact of industrial or conventional agriculture and the benefits of agroecology,” said Mugimba while addressing the cohort during the workshop.
The Agroecology School argues that if the media adopted promoting Agroecology in Uganda, the population would start consuming healthy food, re-adopting conservation agriculture practices and therefore counter the negative impact of industrial agriculture on the environment and health of citizens.
The School has had 4 successful cohorts, producing communicators who are knowledgeable about contemporary agriculture trends and the agendas they prioritize, and ready to defend the rights of small-scale farmers who are often excluded form policy making processes, sectoral development engagements and worse, the bigger, profitable market space for agricultural produce.
“We have had a lot of converts, people who were just reporting about dangerous, poisonous agro-toxins and painting them white, when they got to know what agroecology is all about, their perspective shifted and they are now popularizing agroecology practices,” Mugimba said.
Through the agroecology school, she added, some journalists have had opportunities open for them in areas of agriculture reporting for line entities.
“The principal objective of the online Agroecology School for Journalists and Communicators is to build a network of journalists and communicators around Uganda and Africa working with small-scale farmers to contribute to the national and continental transition to Agroecology through disseminating the right information,” the School states on their website.
The Online Agroecology School for Journalists and Communicators is a product of ESAFF Uganda.
In his remarks, the Chairman ESAFF Uganda, Mr. Hakim Baliraine noted that for decades, small-scale farmers have been miss and underrepresented, resulting in little to no beneficial policy changes over the years.
As ESAFF fronts the needs of and solutions to farmers, Baliraine emphasized, they need an army of media personnel who can report authoritatively and correctly on the ideals and successes of the initiative as well as hold policy makers accountable as regards responsible governance.
“Rights of small-scale farmers have for long been missing in the important discussions. 20 years ago, these (small-scale farmers) weren’t even recognized as the bigger corporations took center stage. After creating ESAFF, we also established the Agroecology School so that we have a media network that acknowledges, appreciates and popularizes what we do,” he said.
ESAFF Uganda operates in 54 districts across the country’s various region and is part of the continental network (ESAFF) which operates in 17 countries, headquartered in Tanzania.
ESAFF, together with other organisations, form the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), a continental movement spearheading the transition towards seed and food sovereignty, and agroecology in Africa.
Small-Scale farmers at forefront of teaching journalists
ESAFF Uganda employs the bottom-to-top teaching and learning model – having the experienced small-scale farmers impart raw and practical knowledge in the media practitioners other than the conventional scholars and professors.
“This course covers different aspects of agroecology and it’s taught by experienced small-scale farmers and other expects from different organisations. The course involves different modules that are studied online including 3 in-person sections; Agroecology Introductory Workshop, Agroecology Learning Journey and the Agroecology Experience Sharing Workshop,” the School website states in part.
Baliraine says this teaching model enables communicators to learn from the people who deal with issues of the agricultural sector daily and have devised agroecology solutions that keep them is sustainable food production.
“We know what sells in the newspapers – the big names, the ministers who more often than not, are not well-versed with what’s on ground. Who will read a farmer’s concern? This is why we are training you, the journalists, so that you appreciate what agroecology is about, why it is essential for the survival of the environment and the species that inhabit it, and therefore give it the media coverage it needs,” he said.
The 3-month online course for cohort 5 will cover various topics under modules including but not limited to; introduction to the Concept of Agroecology, Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, Agroecology Movement, and Communicating Agroecology.