About Us - NARO - National Agricultural Research Organisation

Overview

The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) with the mandate to coordinate and oversee all aspects of public-funded agricultural research in Uganda.

Established as a body corporate by the National Agricultural Research Act of 2005, NARO comprises a Governing Council, a Secretariat and 16 Public Agricultural Research Institutes (PARIs) spread across the country.

NARO is mandated to undertake research in all aspects of agriculture including crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, agro-machinery, natural resources and socio-economics.

Vision

A market responsive, client-oriented and demand-driven national agricultural research system.

Mision

To generate and disseminate appropriate, safe and cost-effective technologies.

Core Values

Inclusivity, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability and Excellence.

Mandate

Coordinating, overseeing and guiding agricultural research in Uganda.

Goal

To enhance the contribution of agricultural research to sustainable agricultural productivity, sustained competitiveness, economic growth, food security and poverty eradication.

Our Journey/Milestones

Evolution of Agricultural Research in Uganda

1898

Establishment of Botanic Gardens for evaluation of crops that could be grown for export and food security in the Ugandan Protectorate.

1900

Establishment of the Forestry and Scientific Department.

1907 - 1910

Transformation of the Forestry and Scientific Department into the Botanical, Forestry and Scientific Department, and then into the Department of Agriculture with the mandate of improving the quality of primary commodities for export.

1919 - 1930

Establishment of Experimental Stations at Kadungulu, Sims: and Serere in Teso; Bukalasa, Kikumiro, Kituza and Masaka in Centre: region; Fort Portal, and Namenage in the western parts of the country.

1937 - 1990

The research division relocated to Kawanda and expansion of research under different Ministries notably, crops, fisheries and forestry initiated. Nakawa forestry research center was established in 1938. East African Fisheries Research Organization (EAFRO) was established in 1947. East African Trypanosomiasis Research Organisation (EATRO) , now the home of NALIRRI, was founded in 1956.

1992

Establishment of National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) by NARO Statute 1992 as a semi-autonomous institution and body corporate; thus consolidating research in crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry under one institution.

2000

Establishment of Agricultural Research and Development Centres (ARDCs) to enhance access to research services to farmers in remote rural areas.

2005

Reconstitution of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) under the umbrella of a new NARO. This brought in all institutions undertaking agricultural research using public resources under the coordination, oversight and quality assurance of the Nation.

How We Work (Innovative and Adaptive Research)

NARO’s work is channelled through 10-year strategic plans that spell out research priorities over the period. The last strategic plan cycle focused on the improvement of agricultural production and productivity. NARO’s current strategic plan for the period 2018/19 – 2027/28, is themed: “Market-Oriented Research Spurring Agro-Industrialization”.

The NARO Research Agenda is classified into two broad areas of Technical and Institutional Research.

The Technical Research Agenda revolves around farm power and mechanization which is intended to move the majority of the farmers that are still involved in subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture through the adoption of affordable agricultural mechanization.

In so doing NARO’s agricultural engineering arm has developed several agro-machinery proto-types including the fishing kiln, thresher, water pump. Food nutrition, health and industrial health, genetic resources harnessing and management, market and marketing enhancing technologies, post-harvest handling and value addition studies are also carried out under Technical Research. Other studies here include production and productivity plus technology development, access and application.

Under the Institutional Research Agenda, the focus is more on policy and partnerships, research capacity (human and infrastructure), funding and funding diversity.

The National Agricultural Research Organization and Agroecological Zones.