For Immediate Release

Agriculture Minister calls for innovation in Agriculture

Entebbe, Uganda. Wednesday Dec 14, 2011. The minister of Agriculture, Animal industries and fisheries, Hon. Tress Bucyanayandi has urged agricultural scientists and researchers to continue coming up with innovations to optimally use the the vast natural resources of  the Eastern and Central African region.

“Our sub-region has one of the best soil, water, and biodiversity resources and therefore, is blessed with a vast agricultural potential. But it still remains a major challenge for our continent, our sub-region and our specific countries to tap this vast agricultural potential to the benefit of our people,” he said.

He added that it is important that the people and governments of different nations join hands and work together to solve common problems and exploit potential common development opportunities to the benefit and common good of all people in the region.

“Our governments and our people expect much from our scientists and professionals working in the field of agricultural research for development. We expect that our national scientists working in partnership with farmers, private sector, scientists in the regional and international institutions and development partners to come up with new innovations that would help us to eradicate poverty, bring about economic growth and improve the livelihood of our people,” he said.

Mr. Bucyanayandi made the remarks while officiating at the opening ceremony of the first general assembly of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), which is currently taking place at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe, Uganda. The general assembly ends on Friday December 16, 2011.

He urged agricultural scientists to work collectively and in partnerships to overcome the common challenges the sector faces in order to improve the nutritional quality of food as well as come up with drought tolerant crops to help farmers adapt to climate change.

Hon. Buchanayandi commended ASARECA for working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the NEPAD Agricultural Agenda of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP).

On his part, ASARECA Executive Director, Dr Sefyu Ketema highlighted the successes of his organization since it was established in 1994 which include key developments in the area of research with new technologies invented leading to Quality Protein Maize (QPM) which will ensure that children don’t suffer from malnutrition. Currently, 30% of the children in Sub Saharan Africa suffer from protein energy malnutrition.

“Most families in Africa cut out protein-rich foods from their diets because foods such as fish, meat, eggs and milk are expensive. QPM is an improved variety of maize containing twice the Lysine and Tryptophan amino acids essential for protein synthesis in humans. QPM technologies are available in Uganda and Tanzania among other countries,” Dr Ketema said.

ASARECA operates in ten countries with a combined population of over 280 million people. These people need new ways to combat food insecurity and hunger hence the theme of this general assembly being, “Feeding our region in the 21^st Century.”

Dr. Ketema added that research has also been instrumental in fighting the brown streak disease that affects cassava as well as the Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW).

Over 350 agricultural scientists and researchers are attending this summit together with ministers from the 10 ASARECA member countries which are Burundi, D. R. Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Ends

Editors Notes

ASARECA is a non-political organization of the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of 10 countries: Burundi, D. R. Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It aims at increasing the efficiency of agricultural research in the region so as to facilitate economic growth, food security and export competitiveness through productive and sustainable agriculture.

ASARECA was established, following the approval of the "Framework for Action for Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa", by a meeting of stakeholders held in Kampala, Uganda, in November 1993. This stakeholders' meeting was attended by leaders of the national agricultural research institutes (NARIs) and faculties of agricultural research, as well as representatives of development agencies that are active in agricultural research in the region. However, Asareca became operation in October 1994 with the establishment of a secretariat in Entebbe, Uganda.  Asareca is governed by the board of directors with the executive director responsible for the day to day running of the organization.

For more information, contact Charles Nsamba, Asareca GA Media Centre, Email: Charles@mediagepr.com,. +256 (0) 712-353339

For more information about ASARECA, please visit www.asareca.org.

Fighting striga: Resistance genes deployed to boost sorghum productivity

 

Researchers under the regional body ASARECA (Association for strengthening agricultural research in Eastern and central Africa) have developed a high yielding striga resistant sorghum that will boost sorghum productivity in the region.

This comes as a relief to sorghum farmers in the east and central Africa who for a long time have had to battle with the striga parasitic weed that has constrained production of this crop leading to the yield loss

According to Dr. Charles Mugoya who heads ASARECA's Agro-Biodiversity and Biotechnology Programme (Agrobio) the striga weed is affecting almost 17 million hectares of farms in the East and central Africa region. “The future sorghum production is affected by this weed which sometimes leads to 100 per cent losses on farmer’s yields.” he added.

Sorghum is ranked second after maize as the most important cereal in the East and central Africa region with about 300 million people in Africa depending on it as food grain. The weed therefore poses a great danger to food security to these huge numbers of people who depend on the crop to attain food security.

Striga attacks roots of young crops starving them of nutrients leading to low grain yields. The weed is a prolific seed-producer, a single plant producing more than 50,000 dust-like seeds that are readily spread by wind, water or contact, and which survive in soil for up to 20 years. It not only damages crops from below, but also emerges from the ground after farmers have finished weeding, making crop management a hard task for farmers.

The weed is also said to affect other crops like rice and wheat. Already 50 striga resistant sorghum lines capable of giving up to 3.6 tonnes grains per hectare have been developed by the regional agricultural body and other partners like Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid- Tropics( ICRISAT).

“This breakthrough will enable 300 million people in Africa who depend on sorghum as their food grain to get out of hunger, attain food security, walk out of hunger bracket and live better lives.” Dr Mugoya said.

According to agricultural researchers the practice of breeding sorghum using conventional methods is a big challenge in fighting the weed as most farmers still have limited knowledge on the resistant genes. 

“Utilization of these varieties by farmers will bring about positive change in the lives of farmers in the East and Central Africa.”  He added.

Most people in these regions struggle to eke a meager living through subsistence farming of exhausted soils with diminishing food yields.

ASARECA is an organization of the regional agricultural research systems of ten countries: Burundi, D. R. Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It aims at boosting agricultural research in eastern and central Africa to facilitate economic growth, food security and export competitiveness through sustainable agriculture.

 Dr. Michael Ugen, the Project inspector the ASARECA and NARO's snap bean project speaking to the media about the project's successes at Wakiso, during a media field visit. The project's ojectives were to develop varieties, manage pests and diseases, understand and look for the markets, address pre and post harvest issues and develop capacity.

 Dr. Ugen explains to the media how the cooling technology used by the local snap bean growers in Wakiso works. The technology was developed by ASARECA and NARO to help snap bean farmers store their produce before taking it to the market, in order to keep it fresh.

 A snap bean farmer placing snap beans after harvest in the locally made cooling system. This is after sorting and grading them in the grading house that was constructed with funds from ASARECA.

 Ms. Zimbe, a snap bean farmer in Wakiso demonstrates how the beans are placed in the cooling system.

Ms. Zimbe holding snap beans after a successful harvest. The farmers have been trained by NARO under the snap bean project funded by ASARECA on how to grow, harvest, and market their snap beans in order to reap big from them. The project was implemented through six institutions in four of the ASARECA member countries, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

ASARECA Media Breakfast

The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) will hold a media breakfast on Tuesday December 5th, 2011, at the Kampala Serena Hotel, Achwa Hall, starting at 7.30am.

The purpose of this breakfast to is to share with the media the key breakthroughs in agricultural research in Eastern and Central Africa, and some of the ASARECA projects that have had a far reaching impact in the region.

The presentation will be made by the ASARECA Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Eldad Tukahirwa. Also present will be the various programme heads at ASARECA, representatives from NARO and Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, who are ASARECA's key partners.

ASARECA's Executive Director, Dr. Seyfu Ketema addressing the media during the launch of the 1st ASARECA General Assembly at the Media center in Kampala. Seated, L-R is Agriculture Minister, Hon. Tress Bucyanayandi, and media center boss, Fred Opolot.

ASARECA's Executive Director, Dr. Seyfu Ketema (L) and Uganda's Agriculture Minister, Hon. Tress Bucyanayandi calling the media to come and take a closer look at some of the staple food crops during the launch of the 1st ASARECA General Assembly at the Media center in Kampala.The meeting will take place from 14th to 16th December, 2011 in Entebbe, and will attract over 350 top scientists, researchers, academicians, among others.

Agriculture Minister, Hon. Tress Bucyanayandi announcing the first ASARECA General Assembly to the media at the Uganda media center in Kampala. Organized in conjunction with the Minister of Agriculture and NARO, the high level meeting will take place between 14th to 16th December, 2011 in Entebbe under the theme; "Feeding our region in the 21st Century". Looking on is ASARECA Executive Director, Dr. Seyfu Ketema (R).

L-R: ASARECA's Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Eldad Tukahirwa, Head of Capacity Development and Partnerships, Dr. Joseph Methu and Head Human Resources and Administration Nelson Mukuriah during the launch of the first ASARECA General Assembly at the media center in Kampala. Under the theme; "Feeding our region in the 21st Century", the assembly will tackle key issues affecting the agricultural sector in order to fight hunger and eradicate poverty.

ASARECA's Executive Director, Dr. Seyfu Ketema addressing journalists at the Uganda media Center in Kampala during the launch of the First ASARECA General Assembly. The General assembly will take place from 14th to 16th December, 2011 at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe under the theme; "Feeding our region in the 21st Century".

A journalist interviews Dr. Seyfu Ketema (R), ASARECA's Executive Director at the media center in Kampala. This was after the launch of the first ASARECA General Assembly, which will take place in December in Entebbe.

ASARECA, Ministry of Agriculture and NARO in joint partnership to fight Hunger, poverty

ASARECA, Ministry of Agriculture and NARO in joint partnership to fight Hunger, poverty

Kampala; 25th November, 2011..The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), has today entered into a partnership with the Government of Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and fisheries (MAAIF) and the National Agricultural Research Organization to fight hunger and eradicate poverty in the region, especially in this 21st century.

This was disclosed during the launch of the 1st ASARECA General Assembly scheduled to take place from 14th to 16th December, 2011, in Entebbe, Uganda. Uganda will be the first of the ten member countries to host the ASARECA General Assembly, which follows the approval of ASARECA's new constitution in 2010, providing for the establishment of Patron Ministers and a General Assembly.

Speaking at the launch at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala, the Minster for Agriculture, Hon. Tress Bucyanayandi said, "Given that the bulk of the region’s population resides in the rural areas and depends on agriculture for income and sustenance, and given the low levels of productivity growth in the sector, hunger and malnutrition have deepened in East and Central Africa in the recent years. Climate change adds to the problems faced by our region, thus demanding extra effort in the fight to overcome important agricultural, social economic and environmental development challenges.”

He commended ASARECA for their strength in research which has seen the region make alot of progress in key areas in the sector, and added that the government is also playing its role, to ensure that agriculture is given priority because is a key determinant for the economy's progress. 

In his remarks, the Executive Director, ASARECA, Dr. Seyfu Ketema thanked the government of Uganda as well as their key partners, including donors, for the tremendous support, and added that the theme: "Feeding our region in the 21st Century", shall eb the main focus of this assembly because food is still a major problem in the region.

"If we are able to feed all the 280 million people in our region, then most of our problems shall be managed", Ketema said.

ASARECA 1st General Assembly launche

For Immediate Release

ASARECA’s General Assembly to tackle hunger, poverty

25^th November, 2011; Kampala, Uganda…. Over 350 senior agricultural scientists, researchers, farmers and policy makers from ten countries in East and Central Africa are expected in Uganda in December to deliberate on critical issues affecting the agricultural sector, and come up with science based, social and policy solutions to address these concerns.

Agriculture constitutes over 43% of the GDP of Eastern and Central Africa. However, the sector is facing scientific, social, economic and environmental challenges, which according to Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) can be addressed through enhanced sustainable use of resources and regional collaboration.

“The objective of this high level meeting is to create a forum for developing a shared vision and shared goals to enhance sustainable agriculture, to bring about economic growth and improved livelihoods in our region,” ASARECA’s Executive Director, Dr, Seyfu Ketema said, during the media launch organized to kick off events leading to the general assembly.

The theme of the General Assembly to be held from December 14-16 at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe is: “Feeding our region in the 21^st century”.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected to grace the opening ceremony. Over 10 ministers in charge of agriculture from Eastern and Central Africa and 10 Director Generals of Agricultural Research Institutes the region are among the guests expected at the conference.

Dr. Ketema observed that with a growing population, the region needs to come together and formulate “strategic guidelines in agricultural research for development, extension, and agricultural training and education; which will contribute to feeding the region in the 21^st Century.”

During the conference some of the top brains in agricultural research in Africa and globally, agricultural economics, agricultural and trade policy experts among others are  will  deliberate on a host of issues that affect the region, such as the role of science and technology and its contribution in feeding today’s population as well as issues of climate change.

“We will also look for strategies that will enable us deal with volatile food prices: drivers and impacts on food security in eastern and central Africa, and evaluate the progress made towards the implementing of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), which is spearheaded by the African Union Commission,” Seyfu  noted.

The delegates will include ten patron agriculture ministers, scientists, farmers and development partners among other stakeholders from the ten member countries as well as other interested parties from all over the world. An exhibition will take place alongside the general assembly.

-END-

Editor’s notes

ASARECA is a non-political organization of the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of 10 countries: Burundi, D. R. Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It aims at increasing the efficiency of agricultural research in the region so as to facilitate economic growth, food security and export competitiveness through productive and sustainable agriculture.

ASARECA was established, following the approval of the "Framework for Action for Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa", by a meeting of stakeholders held in Kampala, Uganda, in November 1993. This stakeholders' meeting was attended by leaders of the national agricultural research institutes (NARIs) and faculties of agricultural research, as well as representatives of development agencies that are active in agricultural research in the region. However, Asareca became operation in October 1994 with the establishment of a secretariat in Entebbe, Uganda.  Asareca is governed by the board of directors with the executive director responsible for the day to day running of the organization.

For more information, contact Charles Nsamba, Asareca GA Media Center, Email: Charles@mediagepr.com,. +256 (0) 712-353339

For more information about ASARECA, please visit www.asareca.org.

Media launch of the 1st ASARECA General Assembly

First ASARECA GA to be launched tomorrow

The first ASARECA General Assembly will be launched tomorrow, Friday 25th November, 2011 at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala, at 2:00pm. The launch event shall be addressed by the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, Hon. Tress  Bucyanayand and the ASARECA Executive Director, Dr. Seyfu Ketema. Also present at the event will be the Director General of NARO among other officials.

The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) will hold its first General Assembly, between 14-16 December, 2011 in Entebbe, Uganda.

Under the theme; "Feeding our region in the 21st Century", the high level meeting will tackle several issues about feeding and the region- in this case, the ten ASARECA member countries in Eastern and Central Africa.

Details of this to be shared during the up coming 1st ASARECA GA launch event.