NaFIRRI
Who We Are
The National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) is one of the seven public National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) under the policy guidance and coordination of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) which was established under the National Agriculture Research Act of 2005. NaFIRRI headquarters are located along with plots 39-45, Nile Crescent & Plots 28-32, Oboja road in Jinja opposite the wagon ferry terminal while the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre is located at Kajjansi, 12km along Kampala-Entebbe Highway.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Our Goal
Specific Objectives
The immediate objective of NaFIRRI is “to manage, undertake, promote and coordinate all aspects of research in aquaculture (quality seed, feed, culture systems and genetics), capture fisheries (biology, ecology and stocks), fish production systems (e.g. lakes, rivers, pond cages), water environment (aquatic ecosystem health), and fisheries socio-economics of the fisheries whilst conserving the natural resource base and to ensure quality product, dissemination and application of research results by end users.”
NaFIRRI News
Director of Research: MbaZARDI
Director of Research: NARL Kawanda
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
Call for Expression of Interest (EOI)
NARO release a Matooke banana variety: NARITA 17 in Uganda
Advert for ICT Hardware and Assorted Services
MUZARDI hosts PARI Director’s Forum (PDM)
NARO-Uganda and University of Burundi Collaboration
Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP) Scholarships
Abim farmers receive walking tractors from Nabuin
New study proves NARO’s Anti-tick vaccine is highly safe and effective
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
General Functions
Governance
The Institute is headed by the Director of Research who reports to the Director General. The Director of Research is assisted by four Program Leaders and heads of units to run the Institute. Supervision of the institute is done by the Advisory Committee of the institute.
Programs/Activities
Aquaculture and Fish Biosciences
Capture Fisheries and Biodiversity Management
Innovations and post-harvest fisheries
Fish Habitat Management
Products & Services
Research Facilities
Structures have been improved upon at NaFIRRI and this is through adding more extensions to the already existing building. This was brought about by the high number of staff who join the institute.
They have new laboratories, especially the Analytical lab that was recently built and other new office buildings. However, there are about 8 laboratories.
Renovations of the office have been done through painting and tailing the director’s office.
Various staff houses/institutional houses housing over 50 staff members. These are maintained with the salary that’s deducted from the staff’s salary.
There are about three conference rooms, new extensions were built for the library and a data center, accounts section, registry, workshops (wood and metal).
Expensive vessels, about 3 in total
The trials and demonstrations fields are in Kajansi.
Achievements & Milestones
The institute received an award for its contribution towards the control of the water hyacinth. The scientists were able to import insects from West Africa to Uganda after carrying out research that proved that these insects would feed only on the water hyacinth thus destroying it in the process. This was after various trials i.e., ranging from Chemical, mechanical and Naffiri went to the direction of biological control that proved to be a big success with almost 100% success.
Naffiri scientists were able to introduce the Nile perch into Lake Victoria as part of their research to domesticate it and this has proved to be successful. Tasked to see how the Nile perch would co-exist with other fish species and through this, the slot size was fixed by the scientists with restrictions between 50 – 85 cm mainly to protect the females. Females grow larger than males and their ability to produce many eggs is dependent on their size (148 per gram of body weight).
The institute has been able to carry out extensive research on cage fish farming, documentation of how to manage cage fish farming as well as generation of the technology for fabrication for the cages.
There are some ways through which fish farmers have been capturing their fish with some effect on the environment but with research endeavors from scientists in Naffiri, solar lamps have been identified as key in the promotion of fish growth. Mukene fish has now been harvested in big numbers.
Fish species that are only found in open waters and move in schools, through research, the scientist have been to generate technologies of harvesting such fish were generated to enable these using light and other various techniques.
Profitability indices by the social economist.
Alternative livelihood options for fishermen to leave fishing. Report on this is available.
State-of-the-art fisheries resource centers are the only ones in the country and region. It’s both in hard and electronic copies are available. International visitors with information from the 1920s. Digitalized, funding is provided. Information arranged according to different lakes and rivers, 160 smaller lakes are also arranged accordingly, historical information and data.
How many visitors in a month? Areas of interest? Different lakes, fish species, biology feeding, breeding.
where all literature produced in Uganda fro the international community to know in areas of marine, aquaculture and
Profitability indices by the social economist.
Alternative livelihood options for fishermen to leave fishing. Report on this is available.
State-of-the-art fisheries resource centers are the only ones in the country and region. It’s both in hard and electronic copies are available. International visitors with information from the 1920s. Digitalized, funding is provided. Information arranged according to different lakes and rivers, 160 smaller lakes are also arranged accordingly, historical information and data.
How many visitors in a month? Areas of interest? Different lakes, fish species, biology feeding, breeding.
where all literature produced in Uganda fro the international community to know in areas of marine, aquaculture and
Linkages with other fish institutions that are interested in fish literature.
- The best research in water hyacinth award was given to the institute at the NARO level.
- NARO paid staff on the payroll are about 75, volunteers 80, both at Jinja and Kajansi.
- Exchange programs with sister institutes such as Mwanzz and Kisumu. Also, Gill University sends students annually on an exchange program and vice-versa.
- Approaches to reduction of the hyacinth
The Biological control played a big role. This was brought into the system and a number of tests were done and it was proved that an insect would not feed on any other crop but water hyacinth. These insects (weevil rearing) were subjected to other crops and tests. These were sent for trial at water sights such as L. Kyoga and Victoria. - Weevil rearing centers were put up on trial sights along the water body shores.
- There has been improvement in ICT systems, the Internet.
- Expansion of the Library building and a data center.
- There is an award of excellence at the NARO level for conquering the water, Hyacinth.
- The staff numbers have grown with a big number of Ph.D. holders.
- Seminars are carried out especially weekly were presentations by scientists and support staff too.
- Mentoring has been done at all levels and some undergraduates (20), MSc (5), and Ph.D. (2).
- Gender-wise, very few women have attained this training; however, a lot of them are getting interested.
- Exchange programs by universities like United Nations Universities (Ice lands), mark Gill University in Canada.
Our Partners
There are various collaborations within and outside the institutes such as World fish center, ASARECA, Auburn in the USA. Teams send expertise to farms and individuals, Mark Gill in Canada
Volunteer & Internships
Application Procedure for Volunteers and Internships
Volunteers: Interested persons are advised to write and deliver applications to NaFIRRI on weekdays.
Internships: NaFIRRI runs internship program. Students are advised to deliver applications and university recommendations to the Institute on weekdays.
Fish Festival 2022
Fish Clinic 2022
Contacts
Contact Information
- National Fisheries Resources Research Institute - NaFIRRI
- ?
- director.nafirri@naro.go.ug
- Nile Cres, Jinja