A $6m centre to boost rice industry
Feb 17, 2010
THE construction of a $6m regional rice research and training centre has began at the National Crop Resource Research Institute (NACCRI) at Namulonge.
By Joe Nam
THE construction of a $6m regional rice research and training centre has began at the National Crop Resource Research Institute (NACCRI) at Namulonge.
The facility will host a modern state of the art laboratory for scientists from Eastern, Central and Southern African Countries and will open in October, according to officials.
Speaking at the ceremony to mark the beginning of the new facility, Hope Mwesigye, the Minister for Agriculture, said the facility marks a new era for rice research in Uganda.
“Not long ago, Uganda was spending about $90m to import rice. Today the story is different,†Mwesigye said.
“The introduction of upland rice, the expansion of paddy rice, and the recent introduction of high yielding and disease resistant New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties have revolutionised rice production in Uganda,†the minister said.
Records show that in 2004 when NERICA was introduced, only 4000 farmers were growing rice.
By 2005, over 35,000 farmers grew rice. The increase in rice production is also evident countrywide.
In 2007, 65 out of 80 districts were growing rice, representing 82% of the country. And as domestic rice production is increasing, local and regional demand is also increasing. East African countries import over 700,000 metric tonnes of rice per year.
Experts estimate that rice production would create an import substitution industry worth over $150 per year in Uganda, if production were doubled.
Since 2004, rice has also attracted new investment of 8 medium scale rice processors and 1 large scale rice processor in milling industry in Uganda, worth $2.3m.
Speaking at the same event, the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, Kato Keiichi, said rice growing provides a good income to farmers.
“The market price of rice in Uganda is about sh2,000 per kilo, which is higher than the price of other crops. Therefore, producing rice would help improve farmers’ income situation,†he said.
Kirunda Kivejinja, the third deputy premier, read a speech on behalf of President Museveni which thanked the Japanese Government for funding construction of the facility.
“This project is in line with our Prosperity-For-All-Programme which aims to ensure that every household earns enough money and has sufficient food all year round.â€
“I thank the Japanese Government for choosing Uganda to host this regional rice research and training centre and funding the construction of this important facility,†the President said.
The facility is expected to be a centre for excellence in rice research.
THE construction of a $6m regional rice research and training centre has began at the National Crop Resource Research Institute (NACCRI) at Namulonge.
The facility will host a modern state of the art laboratory for scientists from Eastern, Central and Southern African Countries and will open in October, according to officials.
Speaking at the ceremony to mark the beginning of the new facility, Hope Mwesigye, the Minister for Agriculture, said the facility marks a new era for rice research in Uganda.
“Not long ago, Uganda was spending about $90m to import rice. Today the story is different,†Mwesigye said.
“The introduction of upland rice, the expansion of paddy rice, and the recent introduction of high yielding and disease resistant New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties have revolutionised rice production in Uganda,†the minister said.
Records show that in 2004 when NERICA was introduced, only 4000 farmers were growing rice.
By 2005, over 35,000 farmers grew rice. The increase in rice production is also evident countrywide.
In 2007, 65 out of 80 districts were growing rice, representing 82% of the country. And as domestic rice production is increasing, local and regional demand is also increasing. East African countries import over 700,000 metric tonnes of rice per year.
Experts estimate that rice production would create an import substitution industry worth over $150 per year in Uganda, if production were doubled.
Since 2004, rice has also attracted new investment of 8 medium scale rice processors and 1 large scale rice processor in milling industry in Uganda, worth $2.3m.
Speaking at the same event, the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, Kato Keiichi, said rice growing provides a good income to farmers.
“The market price of rice in Uganda is about sh2,000 per kilo, which is higher than the price of other crops. Therefore, producing rice would help improve farmers’ income situation,†he said.
Kirunda Kivejinja, the third deputy premier, read a speech on behalf of President Museveni which thanked the Japanese Government for funding construction of the facility.
“This project is in line with our Prosperity-For-All-Programme which aims to ensure that every household earns enough money and has sufficient food all year round.â€
“I thank the Japanese Government for choosing Uganda to host this regional rice research and training centre and funding the construction of this important facility,†the President said.
The facility is expected to be a centre for excellence in rice research.