NaSARRI launches Uganda’s first-ever Foxtail millet varieties
Rich in protein and vitamin B12, Foxtail millet stands out as an essential crop for combating malnutrition due to its nutritional superiority containing high levels of iron, and zinc.
WAKISO, April 29, 2025 – In a groundbreaking development in the first against widespread food and nutritional insecurity, the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute [NaSARRI] has officially released the country’s first-ever Foxtail millet varieties.
This major milestone was celebrated at the 46th Variety Release Meeting held recently at Kawanda in Wakiso district, where three new varieties—one hybrid and two open-pollinated varieties—were introduced to the public.
Rich in protein and vitamin B12, Foxtail millet stands out as an essential crop for combating malnutrition due to its nutritional superiority containing high levels of iron, and zinc.
The variety boasts of an impressive growth rate, maturing within 83 days—far quicker than other millet varieties—and yields up to 2.5 tonnes per hectare.
The development of these millet varieties was made possible through the generous funding from the Chinese government under the South-South Cooperation initiative.
This collaboration, further strengthened by the support of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation [FAO], marks a significant advancement in dryland cereal research and development, with the goal of improving food security and livelihoods in Uganda.
Dr. Scovia Adikini, Programme Leader for Dryland Cereal Research and the Principal Investigator for the project, emphasized the importance of this international collaboration, noting that it plays a vital role in advancing agricultural research and development.
“This partnership has been key in delivering a solution that not only improves crop yields but also addresses nutrition challenges in dryland areas,” Dr. Adikini stated.
The release of these new Foxtail millet varieties is expected to make a significant impact on Uganda’s agricultural productivity, providing farmers with a resilient, high-yielding crop that can thrive in challenging climates.
This is a major step forward in the journey towards sustainable agriculture and food security in the region.
It would provide far reaching solutions to those areas in the eastern African region that are occasionally stretched by prolonged droughts including in Teso and Karamoja regions, Northern Kenya, parts of South Sudan, Somalia, Northern parts of Ethiopia and Sudan.
https://thecooperator.news/bardoli-janata-cooperative-celebrates-millet-day/
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