An evaluation of Uganda's plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) using the Right-to-Adequate-Food (RAF) and Sustainable Co-Existance (SCE) approaches

Abstract

The paper argues that the framework that defines the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA)
makes it difficult for Ugandans to rapidly realize the right to adequate food (RAF). Using qualitative
and quantitative research methods involving carrying out a survey to look at the farmers' and
stakeholders' needs and views about the PMA, conducting key informant interviews and consensus
panels to generate information on the perceptions and experiences of elders, government officials and
politicians regarding strategies in the agricultural sector and the African understanding of the RAF,
and developing the African understanding of sustainable co-existence (SCE) from some of the pillars of
African scholars, the paper proposes a sustainable co-existence approach. This approach also
suggests some issues that are raised by the African understanding of the RAF. In total, the paper
suggests an agricultural sector that is managed and maintained by the smallholder farmers, follows
conservation-oriented development strategy, utilizes knowledge from natural ecological systems and
traditional farming methods, adopts Integrated Pest Management, offers friendly credit, puts in place a
research system and marketing strategy in favor of smallholder farmers' needs, and adopts a clear
option for women farmers and traditional crops. This type of agricultural sector, which I have called
‘sustainable co-existence' agriculture, is the one capable of guaranteeing the right to adequate food
and its constitutive elements have been used to evaluate the PMA.

Mtafiti Mwafrika Vol. 12 2004: pp. 1-36