NITA-U, researchers to prioritise ICT for agriculture

Mar 21, 2023

At the same event, Baguma called on President Yoweri Museveni, to increase funding in the agriculture sector to carry out the social and economic transformation of the country. 

Bright Rwamirama, state Minister for Animal Industry sharing a light moment with Imelda Kashaija, chairperson of the organizing committee of NARO- MUK Conference. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

Prossy Nandudu
Journalist @New Vision

UGANDA | NITA | ICT | AGRICULTURE

The National Information Technology Authority—Uganda (NITA-U) and researchers in the agriculture sector have agreed to form a working group that will identify priorities in the sector that require the intervention of information and communication technology (ICT). 

Dr. Yona Baguma, the deputy director general of the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO), said for Uganda to achieve agriculture transformation, as envisioned by the government through the agro-industrialization agenda, there is a need to integrate ICT and agriculture. 

Through agro-industrialization, the government wants to increase the commercialization and competitiveness of agricultural production and agro-processing. 

Baguma made the revelation last Thursday during the close of a three-day scientific conference, organized by NARO and Makerere University. The conference was held at Speke Resort Munyonyo under the theme Innovations for Enhancing Productivity and Agro-Industrialization.

Baguma explained that as researchers, they have been tasked by the Government to reduce the number of farmers in subsistence farming from the current 68% to at least 55%, increase the agriculture contribution to 8% from the current 6.2%, in addition to increasing the contribution to the country’s GDP from 20% to 28%. 

“We take note that for us to have accelerated agriculture transformation we need to integrate ICT in agriculture and this is one of the recommendations from this conference that we set up an e-agriculture working group to identify key priorities that we need to invest in to trigger meaningful contribution for agriculture,” said Baguma. 

His submission was emphasized by Collin Babirukamu, the director of e-government services at NITA-U, who said that through the e-agriculture working group, the specific needs of farmers will be addressed. 

“I am looking forward to working with researchers, policymakers, and academia to have a conversation about how ICT can work for agriculture value chains because every technology in place should be solving a problem, ICT shouldn’t be about talking nice things but solving a need,” Babirukamu said. 

At the same event, Baguma called on President Yoweri Museveni, to increase funding in the agriculture sector to carry out the social and economic transformation of the country. 

“With the increase in funding, timely research and dissemination of research findings will solve emerging challenges in the sector such as pests and diseases for continued production,” Baguma added. 

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