BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI: Across the rolling high-altitude hills of Burundi, the promise of rich, diverse ecosystems is increasingly undercut by urgent environmental pressures. High population growth, intense land fragmentation, severe soil erosion, and climate variability have pushed smallholder farmers to the edge, making basic inputs increasingly expensive and supply chains dangerously...
BY ILAKUT BEN MOSES BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI — In a major effort to build climate resilience and lower farming expenses across Eastern Africa, the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), alongside the Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU), has launched a joint initiative to deploy Azolla...
BY BEN MOSES ILAKUT KIGALI, RWANDA—Conventional agriculture alone can no longer withstand the compounding impacts of climate change while maintaining a sustainable food system in Africa. Facing a mounting triple threat of land degradation, soaring synthetic input prices, and acute seasonal animal feed shortages, agricultural leaders from across Eastern and Central...
By Genevieve Apio KOBOKO/PALLISA, Uganda — For farmers confronting the spread of Parthenium hysterophorus, the invasive weed is more than an unwanted plant. Once it establishes itself in a garden, farmers say it competes aggressively with crops, affecting their growth and threatening the productivity of land on which families depend. In Koboko...
Farmers, researchers, extension personnel and government officials at the newly launched Beetle Rearing Facility in Kangulumira. By Genevieve Apio KAYUNGA, Uganda —The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa, in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Organisation and Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), has launched a...
BY BEN MOSES ILAKUT NAIROBI, KENYA — Facing a climate clock that is ticking faster than ever, over 70 agricultural experts, researchers, policymakers, and grassroots development partners gathered in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi on June 15–16, 2026 with a clear and urgent task—fundamentally reshape how Africa manages its critical soil, water, and...
BY BEN MOSES ILAKUT KAMPALA, UGANDA—In a major push to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers and safeguard agriculture across East Africa (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, DRC, and Somalia), technical experts have finalized critical Pest Risk Analyses (PRAs) and accompanying harmonized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) targeting high-risk threats to the...
By Genevieve Apio & Emily Arayo. “We are lucky to have trainers from NARO, ASARECA and Makerere University because it is not a daily happening that these groups of specialized Scientists come to training together. Training in soil management is a rare opportunity for us farmers in Lyantonde. We have received...
BY BEN MOSES ILAKUT NAIROBI, KENYA—Strengthening coordination mechanisms and implementation arrangements for the delivery of the Kenya National Agroecology Strategy; strengthening capacities of stakeholders for implementation of the Strategy; developing and implementing the monitoring and evaluation framework for the Strategy. These are some of the key recommendations from the Training on...
BEN MOSES ILAKUT KAMPALA: Uganda’s apex Agricultural Research for Development body, the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) on April 30, 2026 launched Uganda’s first locally developed anti-tick vaccine, marking a major milestone in efforts to combat tick-borne diseases affecting livestock in Uganda and the African Continent. Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni appreciates the...
