The new director general of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro) Dr Yonna Baguma has promised to take agriculture research to greater heights in a bid to ensure food security to the people.
He was giving his remarks during the handover ceremony where the outgoing Director General Dr Ambrose Agona handed over office to his successor in Entebbe on May 5, 2023.
Dr Baguma appreciated the work of Dr Agona in leading the agricultural research team since 2013 and pledged to continue with his work where he stopped by ensuring scientists continue to carry out research in addressing challenges of climate change, pest and diseases and nutrition security among others.
Background
Naro was established in 1992 by an Act of Parliament to provide for agricultural research through scientists working in its various research institutes across the country.
NARO is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) with the mandate to coordinate and oversee all aspects of public funded agricultural research in Uganda.
The Institution is the apex body for guidance and coordination of all agricultural research activities in the national agricultural research system in Uganda.
Naro comprises the council as its governing body, committees of the council as its specialized organs, a secretariat for its day to day operations with the semi-autonomous public agricultural research institutes under its policy guidance.
Its vision and goal is a market responsive, client oriented and demand driven national agricultural research system to generate and disseminate appropriate, safe and cost effective technology for economic growth, food security and poverty eradication amongst the farming communities.
Handover ceremony
During the handover ceremony in Entebbe, Dr Agona gave a detailed report highlighting what scientists did under his tenure of office.
He noted that he assumed office as an acting director general in 2013 after the sudden death of Dr Emily Twinamasiko until 2015 when he was approved as the director general.
He contended that there had never been transfer of instruments in Naro in history, this being the first change of leadership meaning he led the institute in a smooth manner.
He thanked the staff with whom he has been working, giving special thanks to his driver and urging people who are being driven to give respect to their drivers and accord them support because they are fellow human beings.
He pledged allegiance to the scientists who have carried out research in the area of animal, fisheries and crops, coming up with products that have put food on the tables of Ugandans.
He urged the scientists to work as a team and pledge their support to Dr Baguma in a bid to take agriculture research to greater heights.
Achievements
When highlighting the achievements during his tenure Dr Agona noted that Naro scientists were able to develop tick vaccine for animals, develop cassava varieties resistant to cassava brown streak virus and cassava mosaic virus.
Others are a number of hybrid maize varieties, highbred banana, food rich in nutrients namely beans with vitamin A, Iron and Zinc, orange fleshed sweet potato, aromatic rice, apps developed for tracking fish species and technology developed to track fish disease and its treatment.
Others are developing cassava varieties for breweries industries and confectionery industries including developing a technology to curb aflatoxin among others.
His team was also able to establish committees of Biotechnology and Biosafety to ensure safe research using biotechnology technique and institutions to care for animal health as well as a committee to ensure land tenure.
Ongoing projects
Dr Agona noted that there are ongoing projects in total 72 being implemented including climate smart agriculture, the development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) where farmers have been identified to carry out commercialised farming in local chicken breeding, fish breeding, providing nutritious foods and solutions to malnourished families.
Other projects are developing statistical data for Naro to ease research work, tea project to process oils and coffee and cocoa cosmetics product development.
Statistical data and challenges
Dr Agona noted that the institution has 150 bank accounts comprising Shs22 billion both advanced by the government and from developmental partners for carrying out different agriculture research initiatives
The Institution has 13,000 hectares of land which is facing the challenge of land grabbing but he urged his successor to fight this battle and ensure agricultural research is not tampered with.
Appreciation
The Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary David Kasura Kyomukame appreciated the good work done by Naro scientists in ensuring food security in the country.
He noted that since agriculture is the art of nurturing plants and animals for human benefit, research is critical to keep viable products for human consumption.
He urged the scientists to carry out market driven agricultural produce to ensure farmers practice commercialized agriculture for income earning.
