Nairobi University links with Lango farmers to boost cassava production

LIRA-The University of Nairobi in Kenya in partnership with the National Agricultural Organisation [NAIRO] is running a project to help farmers in the Lango Sub-region to increase cassava production.

The project, ‘Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Ecosystem, for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Livelihood in Eastern Africa [AIRTEA]’ is being implemented in Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, according to Dr. Dorah Kilalo, a lecturer at Nairobi University.

NARO and Divine Organic Foods, agribusiness company are the lead implementers of the two- and half-year project in Uganda.

While meeting Divine Women`s Group in Bar Sub-county, Lira district on Sunday, Dr Kilalo lauded the group for embracing cassava growing and seed multiplication, saying the activities will improve their livelihoods.  The women’s group is supported by Divine Organic Foods to establish the cassava multiplication site.

Kilalo who is also the principal investigator of the project said it is worth Euro 300,000 and aims at helping cassava farmers to be able to use the technology and knowledge being produced by researchers to boost their cassava enterprises.

Noela Ojara, the chief executive officer of Divine Organic Foods said the project is running in the Lango Sub-region districts of Lira, Dokolo, Apac, and Kwania.

A recent report published by NARO shows that cassava production in Uganda declined from 2.09 million acres in 2019 to 1.26mln acres in 2020 due to pests and diseases, poor demand, and a lack of market.

Kilalo commended Divine Organic Foods for helping farmers to set up cassava knowledge hubs which are important in boosting cassava value chain.

Ojara said the project is a public-private partnership arrangement supporting 200 farmers in the Lango Sub-region, adding that the number of farmers to work with this season could increase to 400.

She said the company is also involved in value addition for cassava and expects some of the products to hit markets soon, having established sales agents in the four districts they operate in.

https://thecooperator.news/aduku-sub-county-enacts-cassava-bylaw/

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