NaCRRI Updates

Amongi W, Nkalubo ST, Ochwo-Ssemakula M, Badji A, Dramadri IO, Odongo TL, Nuwamanya E, Tukamuhabwe P, Izquierdo P, Cichy K, Kelly J. Genetic clustering, and diversity of African panel of released common bean genotypes and breeding lines. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 2023 Mar 8:1-4. Amongi W, Nkalubo ST, Ochwo-Ssemakula M, Badji A, Dramadri IO,Continue reading "New Publications from NaCRRI"

One of the two striga-resistant candidate varieties harvested during the field days Over 300 farmers in Iganga and Namutumba districts in Eastern Uganda participated in harvesting final trials assessing maize varieties with genetic resistance to the parasitic weed-Striga from 23rd – 26th January 2023.  Striga is increasingly and spreading in the region devastating cereal cropsContinue reading "Farmers in Busoga meet near-release striga-resistant maize varieties"

Maize Breeder Dr. Daniel Kwemoi inspects bagged Longe 5 maize seed at Kiige-Kamuli In August 2022 Government directed NARO to cultivate 10,000 acres of seed for selected crops as a strategic interventions to scale-up food and feed production in the country. NaCRRI is one of the seven NARO institutes that were earmarked to contribute toContinue reading "NaCRRI seed production activities on track for scaling-up food and feed production"

One of the NARO Rice seed production fields in Doho-Butaleja In January 2023, the Rice Research Team distributed 2 tons of aromatic rice seed - NARORICE-1 to 100 farmers in Doho Irrigation Scheme Farmers Association in Eastern Uganda. This initiative was in time for establishment of nurseries for the 2023A season in a move toContinue reading "NaCRRI in drive to scale-up newly released aromatic rice"

NaCRRI Research Assistant Sserubidde Baker displays samples of the bio-degradable plastic potting bags About 5years ago, young scientists at NaCRRI’s Biochemistry Lab invented a biodegradable plastic packaging bag from cassava peels. Excited to rock the market with an environment-friendly solution to polythene plastics, the team was hit with a blockade of bottlenecks that made itContinue reading "NaCRRI scientists blazing the trail in innovating eco-friendly plastic bags"

A group photo of the participants during the review meeting at Speke Resort Munyonyo-Kampala Farmers in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi will soon get the much-needed relief from effects of the notorious African Cassava Whitefly as scientists have developed two control technologies. As key outputs from the Cassava-whitefly control for sustainable food security in Sub-Saharan AfricaContinue reading "Cassava researchers develop African Whitefly control technologies"

Dr. Stanley Nkalubo guides participants through a bean screen house as part of the Annual Review activities Bean scientists are adopting a new breeding approach-BRIO to deliver fast cooking and nutritious beans varieties to the Africans. This method was developed by a team of researchers from the   University of Western Australia (UWA) and PanContinue reading "Common bean breeding in Africa takes new and more rapid innovative techniques"

NaCRRI Director (center) hands a certificate of appreciation to Dr. Robert Kawuki (left) during his farewell party After nearly 20yrs at the helm of Uganda's cassava breeding, Dr. Robert Kawuki has taken on a new position as a Research Scientist and Scientific Partnership Manager for Asia & Africa at the World Coffee Research (WCR), Dr.Continue reading "After 20years of dedicated service, Lead cassava breeder Dr. Robert Kawuki moves on"

Dr. Stanley Nkalubo shows-off his awarded as the most compliant service breeder in supporting commercialization efforts For the first time since the beginning of agricultural research and innovation in Uganda, NARO breeders were this April rewarded for their outstanding innovation and contribution to crop technology development, release and commercialization. Up to 30 scientists from NaCRRIContinue reading "NaCRRI scientists reap big on Intellectual Property from commercialization of crop varieties"

On 25th November 2022, the National Variety Release Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) released what is now the Uganda’s second hybrid rice variety. Developed by scientists at the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) in collaboration with Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences under the South-South CooperationContinue reading "NARO releases new hybrid rice variety"