NARO DG's New Year's Message 2023

Now that we are in anno domini 2023, I would like to welcome and extend greetings from my heart to the NARO fraternity and partners in development. I wish you all a huge slice of happiness this New Year, but above all, I thank God for keeping you safe and well up to this point in time. I appreciate you all for the achievements, accomplishments, and momentum gained in the generation and dissemination of relevant technologies and innovations that are crucial in the crop, livestock, fisheries, and forestry sub-sectors of the bio-economy. I would like to reiterate, however, that success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.

Encouragingly, even when we had challenges in resource mobilization, staff retention, the loss of dear ones, and the vagaries of nature, you never lowered your gloves. You remained steadfast, resilient and focused to enable NARO to fulfill her commitments to the government’s development agenda.

With nostalgia and excitement, I applaud NARO’s stellar performance in the Agro-industrialization Programme of NDP III, as demonstrated by the scores documented by the Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit of the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development. To NARO, nothing is impossible. The word itself says, "I'm Possible!" What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to it.

Reflecting on last year’s performance, NARO made significant breakthroughs at the frontiers of agricultural research for development. The launch of anti-tick vaccine on-farm trials in five different agro-ecologies; the isolation and identification of atoxigenic (non-poisonous) Aspergillus flavus strains of Ugandan origin to manage aflatoxin in cereals and nuts; the development of 42 different products suited for food and nutrition security, and industry for commercialization, are clear manifestations of the sheer determination and commitment of Team NARO. Notwithstanding, through the strategic leadership at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, NARO actively participated in the production of seeds (maize, beans, soybeans, and sorghum) to mitigate against food and feed insecurity that had hit the country. The scaling up of food and feed production will be done through the Parish Development Model and private sector inclusion.

I applaud all NARO scientists who contributed to the global pool of knowledge. During the year 2022, NARO published more than 150 peer reviewed scientific papers of high impact factor in different journals. To increase visibility at the national level, we appreciate the media fraternity for tirelessly covering and creating awareness of available technologies and innovations meant for target clientele. We are particularly humbled by Monitor Publications Limited for the Farm Clinics and New Vision Publication for the Harvest Money Expos.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the previous members of the 4th NARO Governing Council, led by Prof. Joseph Obua, for steering NARO forward in the right direction at the frontiers of agricultural research. To the new members of the 5th NARO Governing Council, led by Dr. William Olaho Mukani, we welcome you, thank you for the good work you have done thus far, and wish you success in developing enabling policies that improve NARO's performance at all levels.

Realizing that no single institution can work alone, NARO broadened its boundaries through strategic partnerships, collaboration, and/or alliances. Permit me to appreciate all our new partners in development, including the Church of Uganda and Buganda Kingdom. NARO welcomes the continued support from MAAIF, Parliamentary Committees and Members of Parliament, and development partners: USAID, KOPIA, KOICA, BMGF, FAO, Gatsby, SIDA, etc. This year, we look forward to more stakeholder engagements with those who are vested in contributing towards Uganda’s social and economic transformation.

The year 2023 is considered a landmark for NARO, during which the rationalization and restructuring of the organization will be concluded by the Ministry of Public Service. We shall continue strengthening our product pipelines in crops, livestock, fisheries, and forestry. I strongly believe the technologies and innovations developed will be able to increase total factor productivity, making agriculture more attractive as a business.

Permit me to thank the President of the Republic of Uganda H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for the wisdom and continued support given to agricultural research. Under his strategic leadership, NARO commits to contributing to the achievement of the government’s aspirations of transforming the country into a middle-income one.

Welcome to anno domini 2023

Dr Ambrose Agona

DIRECTOR GENERAL

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