Agric research agency gets sh40b

Aug 14, 2008

THE National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has received sh39.3b for new projects. The director general, Denis Kyetere, said the joint Uganda government-World Bank fund would be used in the next 12 months.

By Joel Ogwang

THE National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has received sh39.3b for new projects. The director general, Denis Kyetere, said the joint Uganda government-World Bank fund would be used in the next 12 months.

“We will embark on developing new varieties of crops, fish, tree species and machinery for local farmers,” he said.

This was on Wednesday during the organisation’s annual review and planning workshop at Colline Hotel Mukono.

Zonal agricultural research institutes like Mukono, Serere, Tororo, Namulonge, Ngetta and Mbarara have been selected to benefit from the fund.

Kyetere noted that their major challenge was the high expectations Ugandans had in them.

“We have to develop new technologies to ensure value addition yet sometimes we have limited funding,” he said.
He added that the organisation was working with the government to operationalise the Bonna Bagaggawale (Prosperity-for-All) scheme.

“NARO is central in the successful implementation of Bonna Bagaggawale. We have to keep developing new high-yielding crop varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases,” he said.

The spokesperson, Robert Anguzu, noted that the review and planning workshop was the first they had held since the enactment of the new NARO in 2005.

“We are mapping out a way forward in the area of crop and animal disease control to increase farmers’ productivity and ensure national food security,” he said.

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