WAKISO, August 20, 2025 — The Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation [ FAO ], Dr. Qu Dongyu, has lauded the National Agricultural Research Organisation [NARO] for its significant contributions to food security in Uganda, particularly through the development of agricultural value chains.
Dr Dongyu, himself an agricultural scientist, noted that NARO has been instrumental in making food production more reliable and resilient in the face of climate change.
“I am so proud of you. In less than three years, you have become highly competitive in value chain development—you could be the best in Africa,” he said.
The FAO chief, who is the first Chinese national to lead the organisation, made the comments during a recent visit to the National Livestock Resources Research Institute [NaLIRRI] in Nakyesasa, Wakiso district.
During his tour, Dongyu inspected a wide-ranging exhibition showcasing NARO’s innovations in crop and livestock research, as well as agricultural machinery.
“I can see you are transitioning from a traditional academic institute into a modern agricultural service system capable of supporting farmers and the broader agri-service industry,” he observed.
He urged NARO to work closely with farmers’ groups and agricultural cooperatives to ensure that new technologies reach grassroots communities and have a meaningful impact.
“In many countries, scientific innovations and new technologies are disseminated through well-established structures, and the most effective of these are people-centred cooperatives,” he said. “These technologies only yield results if shared with the right stakeholders.”
In Uganda, new agricultural technologies are primarily distributed via commercial seed multipliers. However, the country lacks a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to fully support seed multiplication, which limits accessibility for many farmers. The business-driven nature of these multipliers often restricts widespread distribution.
Researchers and scientists have consistently called on the government to develop a legal regime to support the effective multiplication of seeds and the roll-out of emerging agricultural technologies.
Dr Dongyu emphasised the importance of NARO maintaining its scientific and technical edge, while also engaging with government, farmers, non-state actors, and the private sector.
“For a promising country like Uganda, science-based solutions, data-driven approaches, and continuous innovation are essential for progressing from a low- to middle- and eventually high-income economy,” he stated. “Success in any commodity sector depends on the development of new varieties, improved agronomic practices, and effective technology transfer.”
An alumnus of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dr Dongyu began his career as a researcher in 1983, eventually rising to become China’s Vice Minister for Agriculture and International Trade. He was recently appointed Director General of FAO — the first person from China to hold the position.
During the same visit, Dr Dongyu introduced the new FAO Representative in Uganda, Yergalem Beraki, who succeeds Dr. Antonio Querido, recently reassigned to Cameroon.
Uganda’s Minister of State for Agriculture, Bwino Kyakulaga, expressed appreciation for FAO’s continued support in strengthening sustainable value chains from production through to marketing.
He also called for deeper collaboration, particularly in the livestock sector, including the development of vaccines.
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