KAMPALA | AGRICULTURE MINISTERS | MEET

Agriculture ministers from the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) member countries are to meet in Kampala from May 17 to May 19, this year.

ASARECA member countries are Burundi, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, and Rwanda.

The ministerial conference, which is expected to run under the theme: Building Resilient Food Systems to Feed Africa for Generations, will discuss strategies on how to reduce the effects of climate change, build resilience by catalyzing private sector investments for commercialization of research technologies, farmer empowerment, among others.

Uganda is currently faced with the effects of climate change, such as low production due to emerging pests and diseases as a result of the warming climate, which favors the reproduction of crop pests such as desert locusts, fall armyworms, and diseases including the Maize Lethal Necrosis disease, which causes 100% yield loss when it attacks a garden, according to research scientists.

The meeting is expected to generate consensus, actions, and commitments to facilitate new initiatives aimed at building resilient food systems to feed Africa for generations.

According to ASARECA documents viewed on Wednesday, the Council of Patron Ministers (CPM), which is the highest governing organ of ASARECA, 

guides regional collaborative programs; provides guidance to the board of directors on strategic matters of importance to address agricultural research and development issues and supports advocacy for resource mobilization to finance research, among others.