NaCRRI
Who We Are
The National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) is a public agricultural research institute under the policy guidance and co-ordination of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). Our current crop improvement and development focus areas include: pest and disease resistance; climate resilience; tolerance to low soil fertility; yield improvement; pre- and post-harvest management; nutrition enhancement; industrial feasibility; genetic resources conservation; increased shelf-life; value addition; innovative biosciences research and training.
NaCRRI also hosts the Uganda Biosciences Information Center, Cassava Regional Centre of Excellence, National Invasive Species Co-ordination Unit and the Regional Rice Research and Training Center.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Our Goal
NaCRRI News
Stakeholders Unite to Strengthen Uganda’s Rice Sector
International Partnership Unites to Combat Cassava Whitefly and Protect African Crops
BRAINS Project Inception Meeting Champions Climate-Resilient Agriculture
NaCRRI Welcomes New Advisory Committee and Chairperson
Strengthening Agricultural Research: Parliamentary Agricultural Committee Engages with NARO
NARO and JICA Empower Overseas Volunteers with Advanced Rice Cultivation Training
Ethiopian Delegation Explores Uganda’s Seed System
Eco-PRiDe Project Kicks Off – Inaugural Joint Coordination Meeting
Farmers Embrace Innovation at the 4th Eastern Agricultural Show in Soroti
Advancements in Uganda’s Seed Value Chain
NaCRRI Hosts National Defence College staff for an Insightful Tour on Agricultural Innovation
Uganda and Lesotho Forge Stronger Ties Through Agricultural Collaboration
Mutation Breeding in Crop Improvement
NaCRRI and Eco-PRiDe Complete Transformative Rice Training Program for Refugee Trainers
Over 800 Farmers Empowered at NARO-COFIA Training
NaCRRI Empowers Youth and Women in Agriculture with Hands-On Training
Farmers in Eastern Uganda Trained on Fall Armyworm Identification and Management
Breeding Component of Crops Resources Research Enhanced
Perennial rice research commences in Uganda- NaCRRI to becomes rice centre of excellence
Vice President Unveils Two New Bean Varieties at World Food Day 2024 Celebrations
Rice stakeholders engage in discussions to spur Rice Production
Bio Fortified Bean Project
Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes improve the lives of Karamoja mothers
NaCRRI Preaches Value Addition
NaCRRI staff trained on the integration of gender into agricultural research
NARO launches refugee project in Kyaka II settlement
“NARO understood and quickly responded to refugees’ needs” Rwamwanja RWC
NaCRRI scientists blazing the trail in innovating eco-friendly plastic bags
NaCRRI scientists reap big on Intellectual Property from commercialization of crop varieties
General Functions
Governance
We conduct agricultural research of strategic importance for knowledge generation and development. Establishment and management of human, physical and financial resources of the institute. Provision of technical back-stoppinng and capacity buuilding to Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the ZARDIs, and other agencies dealing in agricultural research.
Research Director
Research Scientists
–Short Profiles —
Dr. Benard Yaada, PhD.
–Program leader–
Research expertise:
ORCID:
Google scholar:
Dr. Jimmy Lamo, PhD.
–program leader–
Research expertise:
ORCID:
Google scholar:
Dr. Gabriek Ddamulira, PhD
–program leader–
Research expertise:
ORCID:
Google scholar:
Dr. Pamela Paparu, PhD
–program leader–
Research expertise:
ORCID:
Google scholar:
Dr. Benard Yada
Dr. Pamela Paparu
Dr. Jimmy Lamo
Dr. Gabriel Ddamulira
Programs/Activities
Research activities in the Institute are carried out under mandated commodity programs and Units. Presently the priority crops according to the mandate are Legumes i.e. beans and soybean, Root Crops i.e. cassava and sweet potato, cereals i.e. maize and rice, Horticulture and Oil palm. All the programmes have multidisciplinary teams. The institute emphasizes participatory research which involves farmers (and other clients) at all levels of technology generation and development.
Priority crops include:
Legumes, Root Crops, Cereals, Horticulture and Oil Palm
Products & Services
Research Focus
Program: Crop improvement and development interventions
- Disease and Pest resistance
- Drought Tolerance
- Tolerance to low fertility soils
- Yield improvement
- Pre- and post-harvest management
- Highland varieties
- Nutrition enhancement
The programme is mandated to conduct applied and adaptive research for improved production and productivity of animals (livestock, fisheries, aquaculture, and apiculture) in the Lake Albert Crescent Zone (LACZ).
Functions of the programme:
1. Breeding and conservation of animal genetic resources.
2. Develop technologies for improved nutrition of priority animals in LACZ.
3. Develop animal vector, pests and disease management system.
4. Develop appropriate husbandry technologies for increased animal productivity and profitability.
5. Develop technologies for post-harvest handling and value addition.
6. Develop technologies for sustainable land and water resources management
- Disease and Pest resistance
- Nutrition enhancement
- Soil fertility management options
Citrus, Mangoes, Pineapples, Tomatoes, African Indigenous Vegetables, Malakwang, Jute mallow, Pumpkin & Oil Palm
- Disease and Pest resistance
- Soil fertility management options
- IPM packages
- Nutrition enhancement
- Industrial feasibility
- Ornamental attributes
National Invasive Species Coordination Unit (NISCU)
The NISCU coordinates all efforts in management of invasive species on biological diversity, ecosystem functioning, climate change and land-use as well as generate and deploy scientific control innovations through cutting edge research.
Uganda Biosciences Research and Training Centre (UBRTC)
The UBRTC is a leading biosciences centre using the latest knowledge and cutting-edge technologies to improve livelihoods. It undertakes innovative Biosciences research, training and services for products or technologies development.
Achievements & Milestones
The institute is now a major hub for excellence in agricultural research and innovation, generating technologies and management practices that are stimulating socio-economic transformation by: curbing food and nutrition insecurity; promoting agro-industrialization and commodity exports ; galvanizing import substitution and spurring private sector investment along the agricultural value chains. The following are key achievements and innovations:
In the last decade, NaCRRI developed, released and registered 90 crop varieties that are commercially produced in the country (32 maize, 24 beans, 9 rice, 9 cassava, 8 sweet potato, 5 mango and 3 citrus). Uptake and production of these crop varieties has increased productivity and exports in the country as follows:
Rice production increased at an average annual rate of 7.33%. This growth is mainly attributed to promotion and adoption of improved rice varieties and favorable policy environment. In the last decade, cultivation of the 9 superior varieties has boosted rice productivity from the previous national average yield of 1 ton/acre to 3-4 tons/acre, resulting in increased rice production from 110,000 metric tons of milled rice in 2008 to 390,000 metric tons per annum in 2020. Subsequently, rice importation reduced from 90,000 metric tons to less than 50,000 metric tons, saving the country over UGX 100 billion. Additionally, four varieties are due for release including a new variety, code-named MET 12 and dubbed ‘new basmati’ for its aromatic properties that make it similar to the globally popular basmati rice. Key private sector players are keen to replace imported rice in their cuisines with this variety. The new variety is thus set to be a game changer, facilitating import substitution and further spurring the country towards self-sufficiency in rice.
The seed industry was liberalized in 1994, and Uganda Seed Project which had monopoly over the seed sector was privatized in 2005, allowing growth of private sector investment. There has been an increase in the number of seed companies registered from initially 7 in 2005 to currently > 44. The total demand for seed in Uganda is projected at 140,000 MT but the formal seed sector is estimated at 80,000 MT. The compelling varieties and products released have been the major driver in private sector investment in seed business. The institute continues to play a key role in maintenance of these varieties, early-generation seed and routine quality assurance and monitoring of increased quality of seed on the market.
The seed systems have not been well-developed for vegetatively propagated crops such as cassava and sweet potato and horticultural and oil palm crops, stifling delivery and uptake of improved varieties. Efforts have been made for these crops to develop and streamline the seed system of these crops by development of standards, guidelines and business models to build formal seed systems for these major food security crops.
The seed industry was liberalized in 1994, and Uganda Seed Project which had monopoly over the seed sector was privatized in 2005, allowing growth of private sector investment. There has been an increase in the number of seed companies registered from initially 7 in 2005 to currently > 44. The total demand for seed in Uganda is projected at 140,000 MT but the formal seed sector is estimated at 80,000 MT. The compelling varieties and products released have been the major driver in private sector investment in seed business. The institute continues to play a key role in maintenance of these varieties, early-generation seed and routine quality assurance and monitoring of increased quality of seed on the market.
The seed systems have not been well-developed for vegetatively propagated crops such as cassava and sweet potato and horticultural and oil palm crops, stifling delivery and uptake of improved varieties. Efforts have been made for these crops to develop and streamline the seed system of these crops by development of standards, guidelines and business models to build formal seed systems for these major food security crops.
Table 1. Formal seed sales, 2014 – 2019
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | ||
| Crop | Quantity (MT) | Quantity (MT) | Quantity (MT) | Quantity (MT) | Quantity (MT) | Quantity (MT) | Total (MT) |
| Maize-Hybrid | 309 | 2,233 | 6,443 | 10,721 | 3,617 | 6,449 | 29,772 |
| Maize-OPV | 835 | 1,240 | 1,210 | 4,339 | 2,549 | 7,893 | 18,066 |
| Beans | 110 | 1,872 | 1,898 | 470 | 899 | 4,386 | 9,635 |
| Soya Beans | – | 93 | 3 | 15 | 104.5 | 1,209 | 1,424 |
| Cowpeas | – | – | – | 125 | 420 | 3,970 | 4,515 |
| G.Nuts | – | 21 | – | 60 | 30 | 792 | 903 |
| Sorghum | – | 69 | 47 | 188 | 660 | 4,348 | 5,312 |
| Simsim | – | – | – | 15 | 160 | 505 | 680 |
| Rice | 80 | 80 | 8 | – | 25 | 1,405 | 1,598 |
| 1,334 | 5,608 | 9,609 | 15,933 | 8,465 | 30,956 | 71,905 |
Source: USTA, 2019
There has been a rapid response by development and deployment of integrated management options for pest and disease out breaks that would otherwise have caused billions in crop losses. Examples of these pests and disease include the maize lethal necrosis (MLN), cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and fall armyworm (FAW). Research interventions reduced incidence of CBSD to 20.4% in 2017 from 27.3% in 2011 and Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) occurrence controlled below 20%. NaCRRI supported pest and disease surveillance, farmer and extension training, and validation and recommendation of appropriate chemicals to manage these pests and diseases.
There has been a rapid response by development and deployment of integrated management options for pest and disease out breaks that would otherwise have caused billions in crop losses. Examples of these pests and disease include the maize lethal necrosis (MLN), cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and fall armyworm (FAW). Research interventions reduced incidence of CBSD to 20.4% in 2017 from 27.3% in 2011 and Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) occurrence controlled below 20%. NaCRRI supported pest and disease surveillance, farmer and extension training, and validation and recommendation of appropriate chemicals to manage these pests and diseases.
Adoption of improved maize varieties is estimated at > 95% (SPIA, 2020). Cultivation of improved varieties from research has increased production from 2.8 million MT in 2014 to 5 million MT in 2020 while productivity increased from 2.5 MT to 3.7 MT per hectare annually. As a result of increased production, maize export volume increased by 6% from 750,000 MT in 2016 to 278,693 MT in 2019 while the value of exports has increased by 12% from US$ 84.99 million in 2016 to US$ 95.48 million in 2019 (MAAIF, 2019). There is increasing research with product pipelines for specialized maize such as sweet corn, popcorn and waxy maize for industrial purposes.
Development and release of improved 2 improved and early maturing, consumer and market preferred bean varieties has resulted into increased productivity from 0.7 MT/ha (2012) to 1.3 Mt/ha in 2019 and increased production from 444,000 MT in 2006 to over 1,000,000 MT in 2020. This increase in production has contributed to increased bean exports amounting to USD 80M in 2018.
There has been a rapid response by development and deployment of integrated management options for pest and disease out breaks that would otherwise have caused billions in crop losses. Examples of these pests and disease include the maize lethal necrosis (MLN), cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and fall armyworm (FAW). Research interventions reduced incidence of CBSD to 20.4% in 2017 from 27.3% in 2011 and Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) occurrence controlled below 20%. NaCRRI supported pest and disease surveillance, farmer and extension training, and validation and recommendation of appropriate chemicals to manage these pests and diseases.
There has been a rapid response by development and deployment of integrated management options for pest and disease out breaks that would otherwise have caused billions in crop losses. Examples of these pests and disease include the maize lethal necrosis (MLN), cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and fall armyworm (FAW). Research interventions reduced incidence of CBSD to 20.4% in 2017 from 27.3% in 2011 and Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) occurrence controlled below 20%. NaCRRI supported pest and disease surveillance, farmer and extension training, and validation and recommendation of appropriate chemicals to manage these pests and diseases.
Adoption of improved maize varieties is estimated at > 95% (SPIA, 2020). Cultivation of improved varieties from research has increased production from 2.8 million MT in 2014 to 5 million MT in 2020 while productivity increased from 2.5 MT to 3.7 MT per hectare annually. As a result of increased production, maize export volume increased by 6% from 750,000 MT in 2016 to 278,693 MT in 2019 while the value of exports has increased by 12% from US$ 84.99 million in 2016 to US$ 95.48 million in 2019 (MAAIF, 2019). There is increasing research with product pipelines for specialized maize such as sweet corn, popcorn and waxy maize for industrial purposes.
Development and release of improved 2 improved and early maturing, consumer and market preferred bean varieties has resulted into increased productivity from 0.7 MT/ha (2012) to 1.3 Mt/ha in 2019 and increased production from 444,000 MT in 2006 to over 1,000,000 MT in 2020. This increase in production has contributed to increased bean exports amounting to USD 80M in 2018.
NaCRRI is also harnessing modern biotechnology and other advanced tools to address intractable challenges in agriculture. These new tools are important to improve the quality and efficiency of developing better varieties. Some of the on-going research has been in transgenic technology to combat cassava brown streak and development and testing of drought tolerant and insect resistant maize and nutrient efficient rice varieties. These biotechnology applications have resulted into products ready for commercialization given enabling policy environment. Other ground-breaking innovations have been on use of genome editing for cassava flowering at seedling stage and developing yellow mottle virus-resistant rice.
There has been innovation in development of biological control and biopesticide development to control sweet potato weevils, fall armyworm, bean root rot and Aflatoxin using Aflasafe technology. Research in on-going for seed technologies to improve quality and vigor such as imazapyr resistant maize, Ms44 and male sterility technology for hybrid maize production.
Several research infrastructure has been developed and others in the pipeline, including the Regional Rice Research and Training Center that includes laboratories, office space and training halls, the cassava center of excellence, modern laboratories for nutrition, germplasm conservation, diagnostics and genetic transformation. Other research facilities include irrigation, seed processing and storage, and screen houses.
During the same period, Kiige citrus scheme was revamped with renovation and construction of new office and residential houses, machinery and nurseries. There have been significant efforts in human capacity development by training both staff and students from various universities. On average, a total of 40 graduate students are supported and trained annually.
In the last five years, research from the institute has resulted in 235 publications in peer-reviewed journals and several knowledge products for use by extension and farmer trainings.
In the last five years, research from the institute has resulted in 235 publications in peer-reviewed journals and several knowledge products for use by extension and farmer trainings.
Our Partners
Volunteer & Internships
Application Procedure for Volunteers and Internships
Volunteers: Interested persons are advised to write and deliver applications to NaCRRI on weekdays.
Internships: NaCRRI runs one internship program annually. Students are advised to deliver applications and university recommendations to the Institute on weekdays.
Contacts
Contact Information
- National Crops Resources Research Institute - NaCRRI
- +256 414 573016
- director.nacrri@naro.go.ug
- Namulonge, Gayaza-Zirobwe Road - 27km Road
- P.O. Box 7084 Kampala