MARKUP project sponsored a group of cocoa processors from Belgium for a learning tour to NARO-Coffee Research Institute together with Ugandan processors like Equator chocolate, Nile chocolate, and Moon-bean chocolate. The event had research activities on the training of sensory evaluation on coffee and cocoa which consist of learning coffee cupping, chocolate tasting from other processors above, and cocoa wine tasting. The experts aimed to profile Uganda’s coffees and cocoa from the different agroecological zones.  The chocolatiers from both countries presented their products which were evaluated by a group of panelists to judge the flavor-aroma complexes for both coffee and chocolate and flavor expressions for the cocoa wine.

MARKUP is a European Union-funded project implemented by UCDA and NaCORI which targets to upgrade the market access for coffee and cocoa exports to the European Union markets.

A team from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency is currently in Uganda on a terminal evaluation for the promotion of the rice development project phase 2. They will be visiting all the project implementation sites.

The JICA team was led by Dr. Shuichi Asanuma, who is the special advisor on Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to Dr. Asea Godfrey, Director of Research at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCORI), the last 4 years of the second phase of the project were at NaCRRI, Abi ZARDI, and Buginynaya ZARDI, and the main focus was on increasing productivity. And he hoped that the next phase would be focused on where rice can be grown without affecting the ecosystem. New technologies in wetland rice production. The meeting was informed that, at the regional level, other scientists have been bench-making in Uganda.

Dr. Yona Baguma, Director General of NARO, said in his remarks that he strongly feels obliged to extend thanks for a very good relationship with the technical team. He shared his experience that when phases 1 and 2 started, he was then Deputy Director General in charge of Research Coordination, and he coordinated the monitoring and evaluation within NARO. When they did the evaluation back then, their focus was on increasing productivity and improving agronomy, and he was glad that phase 2 of the project was delivered and created room for more opportunities for growth.

He then shared his experience of visiting Japan, where he realized Ugandans do not really know how to eat rice using different cuisine styles. Dr. Yona said he is interested to see a component of nutritional food with the goal of expanding our rice recipes. He also wants to see aspects of low-cost inputs like fertilizer, varieties of eco-friendly rice systems that grow without destroying the environment, and the interaction of rice and livestock. He pledged the continued support of NARO and promised to strengthen the transition of the benefits of phases 2 to 3.

-Dr. Shuichi Asanuma said JICA’s focus is to give support to small farmers and high-quality rice at a high price, and he was glad about the vision for the project. The purpose of their visit to Uganda was to evaluate the tangible evaluation of phase 2 achievements based on the areas provided by the development aid. He informed the meeting that an interview survey so far conducted on technology dissemination is going very well for upland rice production. He agreed with the need to increase the productivity of upland rice and improve rice productivity through sustainable use of wetland systems, as it could contribute to boosting the productivity of rice in the country. He said that for the last 10 years of the program, a capacity of over 120.000 people has been built at various levels of education.

The next phase could be to further improve the dissemination of technologies and information while conserving the environment, and he informed the meeting that the evaluation report will be shared with NARO for comments and recommendations before the final version is printed.

Dr. Yona urged the designers of the next phase of the project to focus on ICT applications. He Prays for a strong component for ICT Applications with the purpose of upscaling the transfer and adoption of rice technologies by farmers. ‘We have a big agenda for human capacity, but our farmers cannot wait.  He acknowledged the great capacity that has been built over time for masters and Ph.D. opportunities for NARO scientists and also pointed out the need for training resources placed on selected skilling and training components for non-scientists and specialized programs to deliberately train rice extension staff; otherwise, research will never have an impact. He also reiterated the need to keep Policymakers informed.

A cross section of religious leaders from the Fort portal area gave the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) lauds of appreciation for its appropriate technologies that they commended as home-grown solutions to the challenges they faced in their farming. This was during an on-station tour and training of Kyembogo station of the Rwebitaba Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Insititute (ZARDI) in Fort portal that took place on Tuesday, 20^th June 2023.

The groups that attended included Bishop Reuben Kisembo of Ruwenzori Diocese and his wife together with his office staff and the Diocesan Chancellor. Another team came from the Adventist Church in Fort portal led by Pastor Edson Kaahwa as well as a representative of the District Khadi.

The guests were awed by the work that was being done to domesticate Stingless bees and were even able to taste its unique honey. Mugume Ronald the Apiculture technician at the institute took them through the unique traits and products of the stingless bees, their species as well as the creative designs of their hives.

Mwesigwa Boaz, a research officer leading the seed and feed production drive at the institute shared with the guests on the on-going work of producing clean seed of maize, soybean, beans and other desirable commodities at the institute. The guests were also able to see and learn about the highly demanded export crops of Hass Avocado, Macadamia, Coffee and varieties of apples in the institute orchard.

Agronomists Douglas Mutebi and Faith Aharinta took the guests through the management practices of producing maize and potatoes while the Farm Manager Francis Kazigye shared on the banana varieties and their management. The guests were also amazed at the potential that lay in a variety of farmed pastures to increase milk yields. Innocent Gumoshabe, the Animal Health Technician trained the team in making nutritious combinations of feeds for animals and took them through techniques of pasture preservation.

The guests also toured the fish ponds at the institute guided by David Mununuzi the Aquaculture Technician.

Before planting a Hass avocado tree in memory of the day, Bishop Reuben Kisembo together with the team were taken through the value addition work that the institute has done on tea including the production of ready to drink flavored tea beverages, Green Tea, tea soap, tea oil and tea lotion. The institute also exhibited varieties of beans, rice as well as fresh products from the orchard like mangoes and guavas. 

The tour was also attended by Edward Kasaija Maaci the institute Advisory Committee Chairman together with two of his committee members. Kasaija appreciated the institute management for the work done and appealed to the religious leaders to bring their faithfuls to the institute to be trained. He said that the institute would soon package its seed for distribution in a way of fighting counterfeits.

Speaking on behalf of management, Dr. Kenneth Akankwasa shared with the guests the zonal mandate of Rwebitaba in the Rwenozori region as well as its national mandate to generate and disseminate tea-technologies throughout Uganda. Bishop Reuben Kisembo, on behalf of the guests appreciated NARO and appealed to government to avail more land and funds for the work of agricultural research and technology promotion.