Profile
The Arua Rhino camp road divides the farm into two parts i.e., Northern and Southern parts. It occupies 208 Acres (83.2 hectares) of land and a satellite station in Nebbi District of about 22 Acres, hence the overall ownership of the Institute is 230 Acres. Abi ZARDI lies at border Junction between Southern Sudan, DRC and Uganda.
Administratively, it is situated Arua City, Ayivu East Division, shared Ombokoro, Ewadri and Odravu Wards respectively. Under lower local government, it is neighbored by the following Cells; Yabia Voko in the west, Oboopi West in the North, Egara in north-east, Adroi in southeastern and Oluodri East Cell in the southwestern.
According on One elder (Late Aia 90 years), Abi Land was once a battle field for the two clans of Oyoo and Oboopi. Until late 1900s when Oboopi clan finally won and occupied it permanently.
Vision
A competitive society supported by a dynamic agricultural research innovation system.
Mission
To innovate for a sustainable agricultural transformation.
Mandate
Oversee, guide and coordinate agricultural research.
Brief History of AbiZARDI
By the year 1922, two war veterans (Bazil Busby [Abuni] and George Stubbs (Atachwa) from Germany came looking for farmland and got Oboopi clan under the leadership of their eldest son called Mr. Ombanya. He sold the land to the Germans at peanut price.
The war veterans from Germany opened the land and begun farming of tobacco and other crops and built a factory. Overtime, they started giving in-kind assistance to the neighbors and they were nick named A’BI meaning grandfathers.
However, during the 2nd world, the two Germany war veterans were chased away by British and were forced to relocate their factory to Iganga district in Busoga region.
The British decided to rename Abi as Variety Trial Center (VTC) for testing different crop varieties targeting the European Market.
Until the year 1962 when Uganda attained her Independence, the British handed over the Variety Trial Center to the government of the Republic of Uganda. Then the farm became the District Farm Institute (DFI). The institute continued to provide agricultural extension services through tailor-made trainings; good agronomy practices, Post-harvest management, seed multiplication, supplies agricultural inputs, farm mechanization etc.
When NARO in the year 2000/2001 beg an outreach station for improved technologies the DFI was upgraded to serve as Agricultural Research and Development Centre (ARDC). Until the year 2005/06 through the National Agricultural Research (NAR, Act, 2005), the institute acquired the ZARDI status for West Nile Agro-ecological Zone (WNAEZ).
The West Nile Agro Ecological Zone covers a total of 13 districts namely; Arua City, Arua, Terego, Madi-Okollo, Maracha, Koboko, Terego, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani, Obongi, Pakwach Nebbi and Zombo.
Location
The Institute is located North-Western of Kampala, about 530kms away in Arua City.
It is 8kms away from City Centre along Arua-Rhino Camp Road.
Geographically, Abi lies N.N.E of Arua City Centre, on Grid reference 3° 04’32.53’’N – 30° 56’ 34.42’’ E and altitude 1190m Above Sea Level
AbiZARDI Team
Dr. John Walakira
Director of Research
Ejua Peace Clement
Research Officer / Rural Sociologist
Acema Dan
Agroforestry Scientist
Etin John
Planning, Monitoring and & Evaluation Officer
Iwe Gerald Degu
Senior Research Technician
Aluma Pontius, CPA
Ag. Accountant
Komuntaro Godwin
Animal Heath Technician
Eyosuru Oliver
Agroforestry Technician (Volunteer)
Amaku Simon
Assistant Systems Administrator (Volunteer)
Ocan Abdu
Driver
Institute Programs/Activities
Crop and Natural Resources Research program
Animal Resources Research program
Technology Promotion and outreach program
Work with us: Application Procedure for Volunteers and Internships
Volunteers: Interested persons are advised to write and deliver applications to AbiZARDI on weekdays.
Internships: AbiZARDI runs one internship program annually. Students are advised to deliver applications and university recommendations to the Institute on weekdays.