The general audience will be invited to leave after the presentation and Q & A session.

Title: Unpacking Rural Women Farmers' Knowledge of Indigenous Wild and Leafy Green Vegetables in Western Uganda from a Decolonial Perspective

Abstract: The study explores the ways that rural women farmers in Western Uganda perceive, use, and preserve Indigenous knowledge of wild and leafy green vegetables. Existing studies on agricultural knowledge have several limitations. Most literature relies on Western scientific frameworks, rarely considers women's knowledge, prioritizes agribusiness, and predominantly uses quantitative methods. These gaps shaped the focus of this study.

Using a postcolonial feminist theory and political ecologies of the body, this research investigated: 1) how women assess the value of leafy green vegetables, 2) why they choose to plant and consume them, and 3) how they retain and transmit knowledge about these vegetables. Conducted in Kisinga Sub- County, Kasese District, western Uganda, the study involved semi-structured interviews with 38 farmers. Emphasizing a decolonial framework, the study highlights the importance of local knowledge systems.

The findings are organized into three major themes: 1) the material effects of colonialism and modernization on food systems, 2) the social, cultural, and economic influences on food choices, 3) farmers’ embodied experiences of wild and leafy green vegetables. By centering women's experiences and perspectives, this study contributed to literature on how women farmers’ everyday experiences shape their knowledge. It also informed discussions on food security and the development of sustainable agricultural policies.