Uganda is this week hosting the 13th African Potato Association (APA) Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo, with a strong focus on climate-smart innovations in potato and sweetpotato research. The five-day event, organized by the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), kicked off on Monday, May 26, and has drawn over 300 delegates from across Africa and beyond.
While opening the conference, Uganda’s Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, emphasized the strategic value of potato and sweetpotato in addressing food security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods.
“Potato and sweetpotato are not just food crops; they are strategic assets in achieving climate resilience, nutrition, and rural transformation,” said Tumwebaze.
Held under the theme “Fostering Climate-Smart Cropping Systems for Sustainable Potato and Sweetpotato Value Chains,” the conference has attracted participants from over 20 African countries including Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Malawi, and Ethiopia, alongside international experts from the USA, UK, and the Netherlands.
Hon. Tumwebaze hailed NARO’s role in driving agricultural innovation through its network of 16 research institutions. He noted Uganda’s strong performance in sweetpotato production—now the country’s third most important crop—and stressed the need for investment in value addition, market linkages, and reducing postharvest losses.
NARO Director General and APA President, Dr. Yona Baguma, highlighted Uganda’s advancements in breeding nutrient-rich and climate-resilient varieties.
“Uganda has developed improved potato varieties, including purple-fleshed and beta-carotene-rich types, that are contributing to the fight against Vitamin A deficiency across Africa,” Dr. Baguma stated. “We must secure consistent funding for agricultural research to sustain these gains.”
A key feature of the conference is a technology exhibition showcasing innovations in seed systems, mechanization, postharvest handling, and agro-industrial solutions. The aim is to strengthen food systems and boost agribusiness development across the continent.
Dr. Kassim Sadik, NARO’s Deputy Director General for Agricultural Technology Promotion, called for increased private sector engagement in agricultural research. Meanwhile, Joyce Maru, Regional Director at the International Potato Center (CIP), lauded Uganda’s commitment to science-led agriculture and urged greater integration of research with market-driven solutions.
The conference is organized by NARO in partnership with APA and supported by the International Potato Center (CIP), Korea Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
