Charles Ariko
17 October 2001
SIX million Ugandans do not have access to sufficient food, the President of the Uganda National Farmers Association, Chebet Maikut, has revealed.
He revealed this on Monday at celebrations to mark the World Rural Women's Day at the International Conference Centre.
Maikut said children and women in rural areas, were the worst affected and that many people were living below the poverty line.
Maikut attributed food insecurity at household level to the selling of food by women who lack alternative means to generate incomes to sustain their families.
He cited domestic violence as another cause of food insecurity.
Maikut said women, who are the major providers of food, were sometimes beaten by their husbands who would then grab the little money available to use it for other purposes.
The first lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni, who officiated at the function urged policy makers and government planners to design appropriate strategies that are favorable to rural women.
"We need to be careful when modernising agriculture," she said.
"We need to ensure that there will be measures to improve tools used for farming and provide accessible outlets for the women to market their produce," she added.
She urged the Government to develop strategies aimed at reducing maternal death as one of the ways to ensure food security.
Mrs. Museveni said fighting against maternal mortality was one of the ways of eradicating poverty and improving the plight of women.
She urged women to participate in agriculture.
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