JINJA, Uganda — The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has been named the Best Government Institution at the just-concluded 32nd National Agricultural Show in Jinja.
The award was announced by the Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) during the closing ceremony of the annual exhibition, which ran from June 26 to July 5 and drew thousands of exhibitors and visitors from Uganda and across the East African region.
Presenting the evaluation committee’s report, chairperson Benjamin Isabirye said NARO stood out for its agricultural research, innovation dissemination and practical technologies aimed at supporting Uganda’s agricultural transformation.
“NARO has demonstrated excellence in agricultural research and technology development,” Isabirye said, noting that the institution had excelled in providing scientific solutions to farmers and the wider agriculture sector.
At the show, NARO exhibited a range of technologies and innovations, including its newly developed anti-tick vaccine, value-added banana products, coffee value-chain technologies, forestry innovations, mechanisation solutions, climate-smart farming practices and improved crop varieties.
The institution also showcased pest- and disease-resistant technologies, solutions for semi-arid farming systems, and a newly introduced black rice variety promoted for its nutritional and health benefits.
Minister of State for Agriculture Desire Muhooza, who presided over the closing ceremony, said the Jinja Agricultural Show remains an important platform for advancing the government’s push to transition farmers from subsistence production to commercial agriculture.
She said the Ministry of Agriculture would strengthen extension services so farmers can receive timely technical guidance while government obtains practical feedback from communities.
Muhooza also directed NARO’s National Coffee Research Institute to urgently develop mechanisms to respond to the growing national demand for coffee seedlings.
During the event, NARO launched the Next Wave: Seeds of Wealth initiative, a campaign intended to build resilient and economically secure coffee farming communities in the Busoga and Bukedi sub-regions through research, innovation and improved access to quality planting materials.
Activities at the Jinja Show Grounds are set to continue with the Education Show from July 6 to 11, under the theme: “Youth-Driven Innovation: Growing the Future of the Agricultural Industry.”
