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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While opening the conference, Uganda\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPotato and sweetpotato are not just food crops; they are strategic assets in achieving climate resilience, nutrition, and rural transformation,\u201d said Tumwebaze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Held under the theme \u201cFostering Climate-Smart Cropping Systems for Sustainable Potato and Sweetpotato Value Chains,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hon. Tumwebaze hailed NARO\u2019s role in driving agricultural innovation through its network of 16 research institutions. He noted Uganda\u2019s strong performance in sweetpotato production\u2014now the country\u2019s third most important crop\u2014and stressed the need for investment in value addition, market linkages, and reducing postharvest losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NARO Director General and APA President, Dr. Yona Baguma, highlighted Uganda\u2019s advancements in breeding nutrient-rich and climate-resilient varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUganda 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,\u201d Dr. Baguma stated. \u201cWe must secure consistent funding for agricultural research to sustain these gains.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Kassim Sadik, NARO\u2019s 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\u2019s commitment to science-led agriculture and urged greater integration of research with market-driven solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2270,"featured_media":39889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[31,615,9018,8687,109,119],"class_list":["post-39888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-featured","tag-frank-tumwebaze","tag-ministry-of-agriculture","tag-naro","tag-news","tag-uganda-news"],"yoast_head":"\n