LIRA CITY, March 11, 2025 – Farmers in Lango Subregion can significantly improve their household incomes by growing cassava for commercial purposes.
Dr Christopher Omongo, Head of the Root Crops Programme at the National Agricultural Research Organisation [NARO], stated that while farmers in the region have mastered cassava cultivation for food security, there is now a need to focus on growing it commercially.
Dr Omongo made this statement recently when addressing cassava farmers at the Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Lira City West Division, during the closure of a two-and-a-half-year project aimed at promoting cassava production and its value chain.
He called on the government to revitalise the Lira Starch Factory, which had previously processed the cassava grown in the region.
According to NARO, cassava production dropped from 2.09 million acres in 2019 to 1.26 million acres in 2020 due to factors such as disease, pests, drought, and low prices.
The project, Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Ecosystem for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Livelihoods in Eastern Africa (AIRTEA), aimed to increase cassava production and was implemented across Lira, Kwania, Apac, and Dokolo districts.
Other countries running similar projects under AIRTEA include Kenya and Rwanda, according to Professor Dorah Kilalo, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi and Principal Investigator of the project.
NARO, in collaboration with Divine Organic Foods, an agribusiness company based in Lira City, took the lead in implementing the Shs 400 million project.
Dr Omongo advised farmers to consider cassava growing as a primary enterprise, similar to the oilseeds such as sunflower, which are commonly grown in Northern Uganda.
“What NARO, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, is currently doing is working to eliminate viruses from cassava, multiply, and provide clean seeds to farmers for planting,” he added.
He further recommended that farmers seek out the clean Narocash 1 cassava variety, as it provides high yields and excellent quality.
Dr Omongo noted that while many farmers in the region appreciate cassava, the varieties they are cultivating are often not the best. This is why NARO and other scientists are focusing on producing and promoting clean seeds.
Professor Kilalo emphasised that cassava is a drought-tolerant crop with immense untapped potential. She believes that, with proper exploitation, cassava can support numerous businesses, benefiting many farmers.
She added that the project aims to improve the livelihoods of all actors in the cassava value chain, including seed producers, small-scale farmers, and processors.
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