The Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF) Uganda has launched the fourth edition of the National Schools Agroecology Poem Writing Competition aimed at strengthening efforts to promote sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation and nutrition security among young people.
This year’s competition under the theme “Agroecology in Action: Cultivating Healthy School Diets.” is being implemented in partnership with Oxfam in Uganda, Humundi, the Agroecology Fund, the Ministry of Education and Sports and the National Curriculum Development Centre.
ESAFF Uganda National Coordinator Nancy Mugimba said this year’s competition will place greater emphasis on translating knowledge into action.
“Beyond writing poems, learners will be required to demonstrate the agroecological practices highlighted in their compositions. This practical assessment will help bridge the gap between creativity and real-life implementation, ensuring that learners become active agents of change,” Mugimba explained.
Grace Edith Nalwedde said the competition encourages learners to critically examine environmental challenges and develop practical solutions.
“These platforms help young people explore innovative ways of addressing issues such as soil degradation and environmental destruction while encouraging communities to utilize locally available resources in sustainable ways,” she said.
She further revealed that the competition is intended to strengthen food and nutrition security by encouraging schools and communities to adopt agroecological farming methods that support healthy diets and improve resilience to climate-related shocks.
Grace Baguma, Executive Director of the National Curriculum Development Centre, described the initiative as both timely and aligned with Uganda’s lower secondary curriculum reforms.
“This is a very encouraging intervention because it exposes learners to farming practices that minimize reliance on chemicals and instead utilize locally available resources. Such approaches contribute to environmental protection, food preservation, food security, and practical learning,” she said.
She stressed that through these clubs, learners are encouraged to become ambassadors of environmentally friendly farming practices within their schools and communities.
The initiative comes amid increasing concerns over climate change, soil degradation, food insecurity and biodiversity loss, challenges that continue to affect communities across Uganda and the wider world.
ESAFF National Chairperson Hakim Baliraine said since its introduction in 2023, the Schools Agroecology Poem Writing Competition has provided learners with a platform to creatively engage with issues surrounding food systems, agriculture, health and environmental sustainability. The programme complements Uganda’s Competency-Based Curriculum by encouraging students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges within their communities.
“ESAFF Uganda has established 21 Agroecology Clubs in schools across the country, providing young people with opportunities to learn sustainable farming practices that promote soil health, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management and healthy diets,”he stated.
According Baliraine the programme forms part of broader efforts to cultivate a generation of informed and responsible citizens capable of contributing to sustainable agriculture, environmental protection and resilient food systems.
He called upon government institutions, development partners, schools, farmers’ organizations and members of the public to support agroecology education initiatives, arguing that collective action is critical to building sustainable food systems that can meet the needs of present and future generations.
