Karamoja urged to grow upland rice
Jun 15, 2008
THE mild rains in Karamoja can sustain the growth of upland rice the Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has said.
By Anthony Bugembe
THE mild rains in Karamoja can sustain the growth of upland rice the Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has said.
Bukenya noted that the production of the crop would improve food security and farmers’ incomes.
Meeting the Swedish ambassador, Anders Johnson in Kampala on Thursday, Bukenya appealed to Sweden to support the upland rice project in Karamoja.
Dr. George Bigirwa, the programme officer for seed production and dissemination Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, recently said upland rice varities were resistant to diseases and pests.
“They also respond very well to low rainfall, a minimum of 20mm per week. But the rain should be well-distributed.â€
In March 2004, President Yoweri Museveni launched the Upland Rice Project.
Since then, rice farming has grown from 4,000 farmers to over 35,000.
Uganda has reduced its rice importation from 60,000 metric tonnes in 2005 to 35,000 in 2007, saving us about $30m (sh51b), according to the Uganda National Agricultural Research Organisation.
Bukenya hailed Sweden’s support to the health and education sectors.
Johnson briefed Bukenya on the activities funded by his Government.
THE mild rains in Karamoja can sustain the growth of upland rice the Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has said.
Bukenya noted that the production of the crop would improve food security and farmers’ incomes.
Meeting the Swedish ambassador, Anders Johnson in Kampala on Thursday, Bukenya appealed to Sweden to support the upland rice project in Karamoja.
Dr. George Bigirwa, the programme officer for seed production and dissemination Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, recently said upland rice varities were resistant to diseases and pests.
“They also respond very well to low rainfall, a minimum of 20mm per week. But the rain should be well-distributed.â€
In March 2004, President Yoweri Museveni launched the Upland Rice Project.
Since then, rice farming has grown from 4,000 farmers to over 35,000.
Uganda has reduced its rice importation from 60,000 metric tonnes in 2005 to 35,000 in 2007, saving us about $30m (sh51b), according to the Uganda National Agricultural Research Organisation.
Bukenya hailed Sweden’s support to the health and education sectors.
Johnson briefed Bukenya on the activities funded by his Government.