The Harvest Money Expo remains one of Uganda’s most strategic agricultural platforms bringing together farmers, agribusiness actors, policymakers, researchers, development partners, and consumers organised by New Vision and other partners.
For PELUM Uganda through the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology (KHEA) Project, participation in the 2026 Expo was intentional and impact-driven. Beyond exhibitions, our engagement focused on two critical pillars: policy influence and consumer awareness.
Elevating Agroecology Through Policy Dialogue
While agroecology continues to gain traction at grassroots level, policy environments often lag behind. Smallholder farmers, youth, and women the primary drivers of agroecology are frequently excluded from policy conversations that directly affect them.
To bridge this gap, KHEA along other partners, through support mechanisms under its broader programming, facilitated a Policy Dialogue at the Expo. The dialogue created a structured platform where:
- Agroecological entrepreneurs and multipliers engaged decision-makers
- Participants articulated challenges affecting organic value chains
- Discussions focused on market access, certification, financing, and regulatory frameworks
- Stakeholders explored opportunities for creating more enabling policies
The dialogue was not symbolic, it was practical. It strengthened the confidence of KHEA-trained Multipliers, and other farmers and exhibitors to move beyond technical production and actively participate in shaping the systems that govern their work.
By providing a space for structured engagement, PELUM Uganda through the KCOA-KHEA Project contributed to repositioning agroecology not just as a farming practice, but as a policy priority.
Advancing the “Know What You Eat” Campaign
Consumer awareness is equally critical in transforming food systems. At the Expo, KHEA amplified the “Know What You Eat” campaign, an initiative designed to empower consumers to make informed food choices.
The campaign emphasized:
- Understanding how food is produced
- Promoting safe, chemical free agricultural practices
- Encouraging traceability and transparency in value chains
- Connecting consumers directly to agroecological producers
Through interactive engagements at the Agroecology Village, consumers were encouraged to reflect on the link between food production methods, personal health, and environmental sustainability.
The campaign reinforced a simple but powerful message: food choices influence farming systems. When consumers demand safe and sustainably produced food, markets respond — and agroecology thrives.
Showcasing Knowledge in Action
Participation also provided an opportunity for the PELUM Uganda trained KHEA Multipliers to exhibit agroecological products and innovations. Their presence demonstrated the tangible outcomes of knowledge dissemination, capacity building, and farmer-to-farmer learning.
The Expo platform allowed KHEA to connect knowledge to markets, policy conversations, and consumer engagement completing the agroecology ecosystem cycle.
A Strategic Investment in System Transformation
PELUM Uganda’s participation through the KCOA-KHEA Project in the 2026 Harvest Money Expo was more than visibility, it was a strategic investment in:
- Strengthening policy engagement
- Empowering agroecological entrepreneurs
- Raising consumer awareness
- Expanding market opportunities
- Positioning agroecology within mainstream agricultural discourse
By integrating dialogue, advocacy, and consumer campaigns within one national platform, KHEA advanced its mission of transforming agrifood systems through knowledge-driven, inclusive, and sustainable approaches.
By Magino Pamella – KHEA Communications Officer – Biovision Africa Trust and PELUM Uganda