The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, has unveiled a bold plan to transform Uganda’s agriculture sector through modernization and mechanization.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 6th NARO governing council at Imperial Golf View Hotel in Entebbe on Tuesday, Mr Tumwebaze emphasised the need for precision farming, technology, and research to boost productivity and efficiency.
“The new agriculture is modern and mechanised, with precision enablers at every stage of the value chain,” Tumwebaze said.
He cited Brazil as an example, which has achieved higher coffee yields per hectare, and urged NARO to apply technology to improve Uganda’s agricultural productivity.
Tumwebaze directed the new council to establish a directorate or department of agriculture technologies, focusing on precision farming and modernizing infrastructure.
He emphasised collaboration between small-scale and large-scale farmers, saying, “There is no way you can talk of sustaining a small-scale farmer or making him or her profitable sustainably without building a sustainable linkage, a mutual linkage between this small and large.”
The Minister also stressed the importance of research and development in driving agricultural transformation, noting that NARO should prioritize research that addresses the needs of farmers and the agricultural sector.
He urged the council to work closely with stakeholders to identify key areas that require innovation and investment.
NARO Director General Yona Baguma expressed gratitude for the new governing council, saying it will enable the organization to remain focused on generating innovations to drive agricultural transformation. He highlighted gaps, including a staff shortage of 464, and urged the government to increase funding.
“We have a gap of 464 staff, and this gap is occasioned by an inadequate wage,” Baguma said. “We pray that the government sets aside an increased wage to NARO to be able to get additional human resource to invite vibrant and sustainable and responsive entity to innovate for the purpose of creating impact.”
Baguma emphasised that sustainable and adequate funding is crucial to achieving NARO’s goals, and urged the government to establish an Agricultural Research Trust Fund. “The establishment of this fund will be a game-changer for NARO and the agricultural sector as a whole,” he said.
Dr. William Olaho Mukani, NARO Council Chairperson, emphasised modern farming techniques like AI and drones to boost crop yields and improve food security.
“We need to move away from traditional farming methods and adopt new technologies that can help us increase productivity and reduce poverty,” he said.
The establishment of an Agricultural Research Trust Fund is seen as a critical step towards achieving Uganda’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The new NARO Council of 15 members will serve for the next three years, overseeing policy and research for the organization.