Sustainable Agriculture:

PELUM Uganda advocacy work is usually supported by research on various issues affecting small holder farming. This is done under four thematic areas which include; Sustainable Agriculture, Land, Trade and Market access, Climate change and Environment and Natural resources.
The studies conducted usually provide information on the above issues inform of the facts about the past, current and future issues reflecting regional and international perspectives. Looked at also, are emerging issues as they relate to policy support. In case of policy studies, existing policies are analyzed, and gaps identified.
All the information generated through the above studies clearly brings out the nature of the issues and their implications to small scale agricultural development in Uganda. The research is also usually simplified and translated into local languages for easy accessibility by small farmers.
Sustainable Agriculture and seed security as a thematic area aims to influence Government to develop policies that promote the principles of Sustainable Agriculture which promote production alongside conservation of natural resources that are economically viable, ecologically sound, and culturally adaptable. Furthermore, efforts are aimed at putting in place mechanisms that ensure absolute protection of local seed varieties for food security in respect to the right to food.
The different activities conducted to ensure Sustainable Agriculture and seed security include;

• Awareness creation on agricultural related issues and policies among member organizations and farmers and their implications for small scale farming
• Dialogues and debates on agricultural related issues which involve various stakeholders including media, farmers, CSOs, academia, researchers and policy makers
• Provision of input to draft national agricultural related policy papers that are still receiving various comments/submissions from stake holders as civic participation
• Encouraging involvement of relevant CSOs in policy development working groups
• Participation in various policy making debates to provide technical advice on how certain policy issues will impact on small holders farmers and ensuring their concerns are addressed
• Sharing best practices in agriculture with relevant government sectors, departments and parliamentary committees to inform policy making processes and show case local innovations to ensure agricultural sustainability.
• Building the capacity of member organisations in advocacy processes; giving them information on the rights to participate in local level development processes to ensure that small scale farmers’ priority needs are incorporated  in the planning and agriculture budgeting processes