Uganda Govt Officials Appraised on Relevance of Biotech in Agriculture

The National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), through its special initiative-Uganda Biosciences Information Centre (UBIC), has assumed the front-place position of sensitizing its key stakeholders on the relevance of modern crop technologies such as biotechnology, in addressing major crop challenges and increasing agricultural productivity in Uganda. As a consequence, on March 16, 2016, NARO and UBIC organized a seminar to appraise officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) on on-going pluralistic research under NARO, and to devise strategies to reduce the information gap between researchers and the lay public, so as to facilitate uptake of products of agricultural research in Uganda.

Although NARO has over the years conducted immense research to address issues of food security and low productivity, through relevant technologies, a significant majority of government officials, especially at the Agriculture Ministry had limited awareness on modern technologies such as biotechnology, which Ugandan researchers are exploring to address some crop challenges.

Dr. Yona Baguma, NARO's Deputy Director General in-charge of research, informed participants that NARO is using a spectrum of contemporary agricultural technologies including conventional breeding and genetic engineering to make crops more resilient to drought, resistant to a range of pests and diseases among other environmental challenges as well as richer in valuable nutrients.

Furthermore, UBIC coordinator, Dr. Barbara Zawedde, made a presentation on the genesis and progress of agricultural biotechnology research in Uganda and globally, expounding on some of the public's common concerns about biotechnology and genetic engineering. Commenting on the National Biosafety framework in Uganda, Dr. Zawedde stressed the importance of enacting a law and establishing regulatory framework to regulate the development and application of biotechnology in Uganda. Currently, Uganda has a National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill, 2012 which is yet to be made into law.

Participants took part in a question and answer session in which they engaged the scientists on a plethora of issues; from modern agricultural biotechnology and biosafety to extension services that influence the public's uptake of new technologies. Finally, NARO was challenged to keep updating MAAIF on latest developments in agricultural research and development; as well as to advance consistent and frequent community awareness symposia to trigger technology adoption.

For further information please contact UBIC coordinator at ubic.nacrri@gmail.com.