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.