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The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has launched an innovative digital information and surveillance system in Kabale District.
The digital system is aimed at championing Agro-food Data collection and analysis to inform an evidence-based Agro-food system transformation agenda.
This initiative aims to ensure that people have sufficient, nutritious, and productive food, while assuring sustainable Agro-food system transformations that protect the environment and natural resources, as well as create employment opportunities for people to earn and contribute to the overall economic development of the country.
Jean Marie Byakweli, policy officer at FAO, said during the launch that the digital database registry system has first been unveiled in Kabale District.
He added that it operates in three districts: Nakasongora, Kiryandongo, and Kabale, where it was implemented about 12 months ago.
“The whole project is about empowering communities in these districts to improve food security and nutrition for better health, environment, and livelihoods, contributing to the economic development of the country,” Byakweli said.
He also revealed that specifically in Kabale, they have assisted district health food system actors in developing agro-food management systems supported by the Digital platform.
He also mentioned that in 2021, the UN carried out National Food System Dialogues, where one of the key challenges raised was the lack of sufficient evidence to support the agro-food system transformation agenda.
This challenge led to the idea of supporting a Digital Agrifood Management Information System.
Some district extension workers have expressed their support for the project, noting that it helps them collect data to improve nutrition and food value chains. They noted that before the project, they used paperwork, which was tiresome compared to the current digital trend.
Glorious Katushabe, an extension worker attached to Kitumba Subcounty, said the biggest challenge they face during data collection is poor network connectivity.
She said due to the proximity to the border with Rwanda, network interruptions are common.
“Before the project, we were using paperwork, which was tiresome, now with the digital system, our work is much more efficient, although we face challenges like poor network connectivity, especially near the Rwanda border,” Katushabe said.
The project is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the government of Uganda to ensure effective implementation.
They also handed over computers to the Kabale District Local Government to assist in project implementation.