The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom of Rwenzururu to promote transformational agriculture, aimed at uplifting socio-economic communities in the Rwenzori region.
The partnership is a strategic alliance focused on enhancing the dissemination and adoption of technologies, innovations, and management practices (TIMPs) generated by NARO.
The Omusinga (King) Charles Wesley Mumbere, while witnessing the signing event held at the Rwenzori International Hotel in Kasese town, described the partnership as a significant milestone in the journey towards fostering collaboration, innovation, and development in the communities in the Rwenzori subregion and beyond.
“To NARO, thank you for recognising the potential and aspirations of our people. The Memorandum signifies a new chapter in our commitment to advancing knowledge, technology, and sustainable development in our region,” the King said.
He observed that the partnership was laying the groundwork for research, technological innovation, and capacity-building initiatives that will benefit the communities for generations to come.
“I am therefore filled with hope and optimism for the journey that lies ahead. Let us embark on this path together, with determination and unity of purpose, knowing that through our collective efforts, we can achieve transformative change,” he said.
Over the years, NARO has developed over 1,000 technologies, innovations, and management practices geared towards sustainable agricultural transformation, aligning with the agro- industrialization goal of increasing commercialization and competitiveness of agricultural production and agro-processing.
In his remarks, the Director General of NARO, Dr. Yona Baguma, observed that through the partnership, the two organizations commit to collaborating in mobilizing communities, facilitating technology uptake, and providing necessary support for implementation.
He emphasised that the endeavour aligns seamlessly with the directives of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who has emphasised the importance of mobilising the masses for wealth creation in Uganda and ensuring that agriculture engages in the money economy.
“By working in synergy with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, other agencies of government, local governments, religious and cultural institutions, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders, NARO aims to amplify the impact of its initiatives and drive sustainable agricultural growth,” Dr. Baguma noted.
Under the partnership, the Kingdom of Rwenzururu will play a critical role in mobilising the masses to embrace these advancements, while also offering land for the establishment of demonstration sites and model farms. This approach is poised to accelerate the adoption and utilisation of improved technologies, fostering increased production and productivity throughout the region.
The partnership with the Kingdom of Rwenzururu adds to a host of other Memoranda of Understanding that NARO has with similar institutions, including Tooro, Buganda, and Bunyoro Kingdoms. Preparations are also underway to formalise partnerships with the Busoga Kingdom, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (URCU), and other institutions across the country.
Dr. Baguma said the partnerships allow the leveraging of each entity’s strengths to benefit farmers and all players along the agricultural value chain. He noted that the persistence of poverty among players in the agricultural sector is a result of the low uptake and utilisation of technologies that have been developed to support agriculture as an engine of economic growth.
“There is great potential to change the situation and improve livelihoods in the sector through the utilisation of the developed technologies, from improved seeds to value-added prototypes to machinery that reduces human drudgery. Transformation can be swift with adaptability,” he said.
