Govt launches sh72b cassava project

THE Government has launched a $30m (sh72b) project to promote food security through sustainable cassava production in the country.

The project is also aimed at improving peoples’ incomes and promoting commercial farming.

The project coordinator, George Lukwago, said Uganda would lead regional research in cassava through the regional centre of excellence.
“Uganda is providing leadership in cassava research that will take the East African countries to the levels of world class success stories,” Lukwago said.

The five-year project will be implemented by the National Agricultural Advisory and Research Organisation (NARO) through the agriculture ministry.

Funded through a World Bank loan, the project will also be implemented under the Eastern Africa agricultural productivity programme (EAAPP).

Under the EAAPP project, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia have received $30m each to promote cassava, dairy, rice and wheat growing on a commercial scale.

The cassava centre of excellence, one of the components of the project, was recently launched by the agriculture minister, Hope Mwesigye, at the national crops resources research instituite at Namulonge in Kampala.

“This is the time to increase local production and safeguard our communities from hunger and unproductive livelihoods,” Mwesigye said.