Uganda announces ASARECA Agriculture Ministerial Conference (AAMC)
BY BEN MOSES ILAKUT
KAMPALA, UGNADA: The Government of Uganda on May 16 announced that the country was set to host the ASARECA Agriculture Ministerial Conference (AAMC), which will take place at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda, on 17th – 19th May 2023.
Addressing the country at Uganda Government Media Centre in the Capital, Kampala, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Fred Bwiino Kyakulaga, informed the country that the conference would gather over 350 delegates from 14 member countries.
Hon. Kyakulaga informed the country that ASARECA is a beneficial Association at the press briefing in Kampala
Theme of the conference
The theme of the Conference is: Building Resilient Food Systems to Feed Africa for Generations and it is organised by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, in conjunction with the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO).
About ASARECA
ASARECA is a sub-regional inter-governmental organisation of the National Agricultural Research systems of 14 member countries which include: Republic of Burundi, Republic of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, State of Eritrea, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Madagascar, Republic of the Congo, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of South Sudan, Republic of the Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda.
Benefits of ASARECA
Hon. Kyakulaga informed the country that ASARECA is an extremely beneficial Association, which works with the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Agricultural universities and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to improve agricultural based livelihoods.
“Since inception in 1994, ASARECA has invested USD 17.2 million to catalyze agricultural transformation in Uganda and registered achievements such as: Supporting scientists to fight Cassava Brown Streak Disease that damaged the cassava crop, causing loses to our farmers; Establishing cassava and potato standards for East African Community states, hereby promoting value addition and regional trade in quality cassava products; Controlling Banana Xanthomonas Wilt in Uganda by promoting proven and cost-effective measures against the disease; Promoting Quality Protein Maize in Lira and Gulu districts to address acute malnutrition following the Lord’s Resistance Army war; Fighting the Striga weed through research efforts leading to the release of four lines of striga-resistant sorghum varieties with mechanical barriers to striga in Sudan, which were also shared with Uganda; Coordinating the formation of the Cassava Centre of Excellence at NaCRRI in Uganda; and Coordinating the generation of research solutions to trans-boundary diseases like Maize Lethal Necrosis Virus and Fall Army Warm.” He said.
Farmers invited
He invited Ugandan farmers to attend the conference and exhibit the various agricultural products that they produce and also to get knowledge from the experts that will be at the conference.
Hon. Kyakulaga (left) and Dr. Warinda during the press briefing in Kampala
Dr. Warinda explains the AAMC
The minister was flanked by ASARECA Executive Director, Dr. Enock Warinda. Dr Warinda, said that the secretariat will discuss pertinent issues that affect farmers.
“Farmers will benefit from the flow of knowledge and information to enhance the adoption of technological innovations in agriculture that increase productivity and commercialization in the sector,” Warinda said.
“ASARECA brings together researchers from 14 member countries to share and promote knowledge and innovations to solve common challenges facing agriculture,” Dr. Warinda said. Dr. Warinda explained that because ASARECA is a membership body, the Members meet as a General Assembly and as A Council of Patron Ministers (CPM) after every two years to discuss issues of common interest.
Some of the journalists who throged the media centre to receive news of the AAMC-2023
He noted that the main purpose of this Conference, therefore, is to enable the Council of Patron Ministers, the General Assembly, the Board of Directors, and the Secretariat to discuss pertinent issues that affect the local farmers, including ensuring the flow of knowledge and information to farmers to enhance adoption of innovations that increase Agricultural productivity and commercialization.