NARO Director General, Dr. Yona Baguma, speaks during the meeting at Speke Resort, Munyonyo

KAMPALA, Uganda — The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) is exploring public-private partnerships (PPPs) to commercialise its research infrastructure, generate additional revenue and strengthen the financial sustainability of agricultural research.

The initiative seeks to attract private sector investment, expertise, technology and innovation to maximise the use of NARO’s existing facilities and create new revenue streams to support its research and innovation mandate.

The proposals were discussed during a top management meeting held at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Wednesday, November 4, where NARO officials reviewed project concept notes and feasibility studies for potential investments across the organisation.

NARO Director General Dr. Yona Baguma said the organisation was seeking to maximise returns on existing investments to generate additional resources for agricultural research and contribute to national revenue.

“NARO has several facilities whose capacity we need to harness to generate revenue for sustainable agricultural research and also make a contribution to the national coffers,” Baguma said.

Facilities targeted for commercialisation

Among the facilities identified for potential commercialisation are the dairy processing plant and livestock feed mill at the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI), the fish feed mill at the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) in Kajjansi, and the feed sorting facility at Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mbarara ZARDI).

The proposals also include automotive garages at NaSARRI, NaLIRRI and the National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), as well as hostel facilities at NaFIRRI in Jinja and Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MuZARDI).

Baguma said Government remains NARO’s primary source of funding, but the organisation needs to diversify its financing as support from development partners continues to decline.

He commended Government for increasing NARO’s annual budget from UGX 61 billion to UGX 223 billion over the past decade, while emphasising the need to explore additional financing options.

“Over the last 30 years, we have done a lot as NARO, but we must continue finding ways of securing resources for sustainable research. We need to add value to the facilities we have and make them work for us,” he said.

Existing initiatives generate billions

NARO is already generating revenue from some of its research investments, including licensing improved crop varieties to private seed companies, an initiative that now generates more than UGX 1 billion.

Baguma also cited the establishment of seed hubs, particularly the coffee seed hub, which generated products valued at more than UGX 20 billion in the last financial year.

Investments in the organisation’s anti-tick vaccine manufacturing facility have also resulted in vaccine stock valued at more than UGX 20 billion.

“These investments are intended to make NARO more self-sustaining. We must invest our brains and make the right decisions,” Baguma said.

Finance Ministry backs partnership approach

The Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership Unit at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Jim Mugunga, commended NARO for identifying opportunities within its existing infrastructure and preparing them for commercialisation.

Mugunga said the increasing demands on Government resources made it necessary for public institutions to explore alternative financing and investment models to supplement the national budget.

He noted that commercial partnerships could allow NARO to make greater use of machinery and infrastructure that may not be required to operate continuously for research purposes.

Using feed processing facilities and improved pasture production as examples, Mugunga said the additional capacity could be commercially exploited while preserving the resources needed for research.

He added that the initiative aligns with Government’s broader economic transformation agenda, including the Tenfold Growth Strategy and the Parish Development Model, by helping translate research innovations into products and services that reach farmers and stimulate economic activity.

Mugunga assured NARO of support from the PPP Unit in working with relevant government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, Operation Wealth Creation and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, to identify and develop viable partnership opportunities.

The proposed partnerships are expected to supplement Government funding and help ensure that public investments in agricultural research deliver greater economic value.