Tooro Kingdom Partners with NARO to Boost Agricultural Development

Tooro Kingdom has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to implement joint agricultural initiatives to transform the region.

The signing ceremony, held at the Kingdom’s Parliament in Fort Portal City on Wednesday, was presided over by the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Mr. Steven Kiyingi Frankston, and the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Sabiiti Amooti.

Representing NARO were the Director General, Dr. Yona Baguma, and the Chairperson of the Governing Council, Dr. William Olaho Mukani.

Prime Minister Kiyingi emphasized that the memorandum came at a crucial time to support King Oyo’s ongoing efforts to combat high rates of stunted growth in the region.

“Despite our fertile soils and favourable climate, Tooro has one of the highest rates of stunted children. This MoU allows us to utilize NARO’s technologies to tackle this challenge,” Kiyingi said.

He noted that stunting negatively affects the cognitive abilities of the population, which in turn impacts the region’s economic and human development.

Many residents, he said, were caught up in “wasteful living,” but the promotion of NARO’s technologies could enhance productivity and change the region’s fortunes.

Dr. Yona Baguma, NARO’s Director General, explained that the partnership would leverage NARO’s 30 years of agricultural research and innovation to bring advanced technologies and solutions directly to the people of Tooro, fostering rapid transformation in alignment with national goals.

“With 16 public research institutes, including the Rwebitaba Institute in Tooro, we are dedicated to delivering technologies suited to the different agroecological zones across Uganda,” Baguma said.

He added that these efforts align with President Yoweri Museveni’s vision for agricultural transformation, focusing on modernization, agro-industrialization, climate-smart farming, and promoting high-value crops like macadamia, cashew nuts, Hass avocados, and cocoa.

The partnership will specifically benefit from NARO’s extensive research on high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient crop varieties, improved livestock breeds, and advanced pasture and disease management techniques.

Conservation agriculture and value addition technologies will also empower farmers to increase production, income, and climate resilience.

Recognizing Tooro’s rich agricultural landscape, NARO and the Kingdom aim to tap into the region’s potential for agritourism.

“Integrating agriculture with the tourism industry can unlock new opportunities, enhancing the kingdom’s heritage while providing farmers and local communities with sustainable livelihoods,” Dr. Baguma said.

He highlighted the creation of agritourism hubs where visitors can engage in farming activities, learn about Indigenous knowledge, and sample local products such as speciality teas, coffee, honey, and dairy items.

Under the forestry sector, NARO will introduce fast-growing, high-yielding tree varieties to meet the rising demand for timber and firewood while supporting reforestation efforts.

NARO’s research will also promote the processing of forest products, like honey and mushrooms, to create alternative income streams for rural communities.

On the issue of fluctuating tea prices, Dr. Baguma revealed that NARO is developing specialty teas, including green and purple varieties, which fetch higher market prices and offer better income potential for farmers.

These teas not only provide economic benefits but also carry nutritional and environmental advantages.

NARO’s Rwebitaba Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (RwebiZARDI) in Tooro will play a central role in implementing this collaboration.

The institute will work closely with local government agricultural extension services to ensure farmers receive the technical support needed to adopt NARO’s innovations.

The partnership will also capitalize on funding from government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the GROW project, which focuses on women’s economic empowerment.

These initiatives are expected to scale up the adoption of new technologies and increase agricultural productivity across the region.

Through this partnership, the people of Tooro are set to benefit from NARO’s latest agricultural research and innovations, ensuring the Kingdom continues to thrive as both a cultural and agricultural leader in Uganda.