For decades, the West Nile region was synonymous with tobacco cultivation, but today, those iconic tobacco-drying barns are disappearing as rice cultivation takes root as a food security and income-generating alternative for farmers.
A collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is helping farmers make this transition through the Promotion of Sustainable Rice Development Project (ECO-PRiDe).
“The high rice yields recorded among trained farmers were clear evidence that adopting new technologies and innovations can create food and income-secure communities, a vision aligned with Uganda’s national development goals,” said Mr Frank Mugabi, the Head of Communications at NARO.
The five-year initiative aims to promote sustainable rice production, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and contribute to regional economic growth.
“JICA remains dedicated to promoting agricultural transformation through technology transfer, farmer training, and research collaboration with national institutions like NARO and MAAIF,” said Mr Toshinori Katsumata from JICA.
The project has trained 28 farmers in Nyadri sub-county, Maracha District, through the Musomesa Field School approach, covering the entire rice production cycle from site selection and field management to post-harvest handling.
The Parish Chief of the area, Ms Beatrice Aseru, said rice cultivation, supported by funding from the Parish Development Model (PDM), has strong potential to help local farmers lift themselves out of poverty.
Rice is rapidly gaining prominence in the region and is now ranked among West Nile’s top five most popular crops due to its dual role as both a staple food and a lucrative cash crop.
Nationally, rice production in Uganda has surged over the past 15 years from less than 300,000 metric tons to more than 700,000 metric tons, with Uganda now over 70 percent self-sufficient in rice production.
Experts project that the country could soon achieve full self-sufficiency and even become a rice-exporting nation.