EXPO: 1st Agroecology Market Systems EXPO Opens

By Our Reporter
KAMPALA, Uganda [SHIFT MEDIA NEWS] State Minister for Trade Hon Harriet Ntabazi has urged East African nations to rally behind one another so as to enhance regional market for agricultural products.
Ntabazi was speaking at the 1st Agroecological Market Systems Expo (AMASE) that opened at the Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi, Kampala.
Regional participants under the YALTA initiative from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia are in attendance.
The AMASE is part of the weeklong action packed PELUM Uganda annual agroecology symposium.
“Uganda is blessed with one of the most sweetest foods in Africa and the World over, all we need is to enhance how to market this agricultural products, but above all, we need to first and foremost work as a regional bloc,” said Ntabazi

Opportunities Gained

Over the past three decades, agroecology has gained much attention as the basis for the transition from conventional agriculture and external -market oriented production to ecological, localized agriculture.
Specifically, young entrepreneurs have taken this opportunity to reclaim their identity by innovating and diversifying ecological farm production using local resources and knowledge.
The event is organized by PELUM Uganda in collaboration with the Netherland Food Partnership (NFP).
Scores of exhibitors drawn from across Uganda engaged in agro based agroecology are taking part in the first ever multi-sectoral and multi value chain expo.
The theme for the AMASE is “Unlocking barriers and opportunities for scaling up agroecology entrepreneurship and territorial market development.”
PELUM Uganda Country Board Chairperson, Dr. Christopher Kyeswa said the goal of the expo is to provide a platform for agroecology entrepreneurs and market systems actors to share experience, build synergies,showcase and explore opportunities for strengthening agroecology entrepreneurship.