MPs want partnership to promote new agro technologies

______________

Members of Parliament (MPs) on the agriculture committee have called for collaboration with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to promote research technologies throughout the country.

According to the legislators, this initiative can be implemented through their constituencies.

Committee members, including Dr Emmanuel Otala (Budaama South), said the move will increase the adoption of many research technologies, especially seed.

Otala’s call was supported by Santa Okot (Aruu North), who mentioned that farmers suffer from fake seeds due to limited information about the good varieties produced by NARO.

Dr. Mosese Dhikusooka Tefula (Right), the technical head of Vaccine Production at the National Agricultural Research Institute showing the NAROVAC anti-tick vaccine that was developed by Ugandans at the Livestock Vaccine R&D laboratory at the National Agricultural Livestock Resources Research Institute in Luweero district. (Photo by Lawrence Mulondo)

The issue of fake and counterfeit maize seed was raised by Esther Mbayo (Luuka District Woman) who called for the streamlining of seed companies to weed out those selling fake seed.

The MPs made the suggestions on February 24, 2025, during their oversight visit to NARO, starting from the National Coffee Resources Research Institute (NaCORI) to the National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) and then the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI).

According to committee chairperson Linda Agnes Auma, the visit was to gather information on the needs of researchers that can be included in the policy documents that are being worked on following the conclusion of works on the budget framework paper.

“This visit is timely because we are in the budgeting process. We have finished the budget framework paper and are now moving to the ministerial policy statement where there are avenues where we can bring in issues that are crucial for the growth and development of the agriculture sector; of which research is very key for every developing country,” Auma said.

From the whole day visit, MPs were able to see progress made in anti-tick vaccines, new coffee varieties and the latest seeds of various crops.

While engaging the members of parliament, the Director General of NARO Dr Yona Baguma, reported that the institute is constrained because of the limited budget that has prevented them from absorbing project staff. 

He explained for every research station that has been grouped in ZARDIs to perform better, they need a minimum of shillings 20 billion so as to perform as expected.