NaCRRI Updates

NAROBEAN 1 - one of the varieties promoted under the Pre-cooked bean project Six years ago, NaCRRI joined a consortium of 3 partners to implement the project; “Scale-up supply and utilization of precooked beans for food and nutrition security, incomes and environmental conservation by leveraging on public-private partnerships in Kenya and Uganda”.  Simply -named ‘Pre-cookedContinue reading "Pre-cooked beans project wraps up with major milestones"

Geoffrey Okao, training farmers in omogo subcounty, Terego district Farmers in in Buikwe, Buigiri and Serere districts are keen to scale up insecticide control to manage and minimize the impact of whiteflies on cassava. This follows the completion of participatory trials/ demonstrations that they took part in since May 2020. During the harvesting of theContinue reading "Insecticide control for cassava whiteflies delivers hope to farmers; Many are eager to scale-out"

NARO top management and UBL officials after signing an Memorandum of Understanding Cassava and maize varieties developed at NaCRRI are part of a suit of research technologies currently being driven to private sector commercialization. In an on-going effort to accelerate uptake and use of agricultural technologies and initiated under the Feed the Future Agricultural ResearchContinue reading "Crop technologies in commercialization drive"

A youth farmer of Kabusandara Kabuguta, Kirembe Farmer Field School excited about the bounty tomato harvet It’s half past midday when we arrive at Ngenge irrigation scheme, Ngenge sub-county-Sosho Village in Kween district. A visibly tired Muganga Isaac is still braving the scorching sun - making a soft seedbed for the beginning season. From whatContinue reading "Power of demonstrations: Early adopters in horticultural technologies in five watersheds"

Dr. Jimmy Lamo-the Program Leader Cereals in one of the trial blocks for the new rice Near-release rice varieties currently undergoing- last-mile on-farm trials and demonstrations are causing a storm among participating communities. Developed in record time of 2 years through accelerated variety development, the varieties have captured farmer appetite with novel traits. “We areContinue reading "New rice varieties developed by shuttle breeding with Korean partners excites farmers"

Participants during one of the Focus Group Discussions In addition to high productivity, sweet potato end-users are also sensitive to agronomic management attributes such as the amount of external inputs needed and the sensorial quality of cooked/ boiled sweet potato. Insights like these were revealed through a recent study conducted in Iganga and Kamuli districtsContinue reading "New study throws insight on gender considerations for trait preferences of sweet potato and implications on variety replacement"

The Uganda Biosciences Information Center under the auspices of NaCRRI hosted the Uganda chapter for the fourth edition of the Africa Biennial Biosciences Communication (ABBC2021) Symposium, held from 20th-24th September 2021. The hybrid event was held with both in-person and virtual participation. The symposium was hosted in six countries including Uganda under the theme ‘AcceleratingContinue reading "UBIC hosts conversations on current situation and direction of biosciences in Uganda"

A farmer applies Aflasafe on sorghum in Kabale Aflatoxin is a major challenge in Uganda. It has recently caused a trade stand-off in the regional maize exports and incidences of aflatoxin poisoning in recipients of  food aid in Karamoja—a public health concern. Studies to monitor aflatoxin have shown high levels of contamination on major grains,Continue reading "Uganda starts efficacy trials on Aflasafe for aflatoxin mitigation"

Oil palm nursery shade at NaCRRI In April this year, NaCRRI intensified activities geared towards strengthening Uganda’s oil palm seed system. The team introduced four superior varieties from Palmelit Benin and renovated critical oil palm seedling infrastructure. Some of the introduced varieties are resistant to the notorious Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Elaeidis), areContinue reading "NaCRRI introduces new varieties to boost oil palm sector in Uganda"

Odongo, P. J., Onaga, G., Ricardo, O., Natsuaki, K. T., Alicai, T., & Geuten, K. (2021). Insights Into Natural Genetic Resistance to Rice Yellow Mottle Virus and Implications on Breeding for Durable Resistance. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.671355Oloka, B.M., da Silva Pereira, G., Amankwaah, V.A. et al. Discovery of a major QTL for root-knot nematode (MeloidogyneContinue reading "Publications April -June, 2021"