A scientist at the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has advised cassava farmers in the Lango sub-region to scale up growing of the crop, not only for food security, but also for commercial ventures.
Dr Christopher Omongo, NARO’s research scientist and head of root crops programme, said farmers in the sub-region have mastered growing cassava for food and no one can beat them, but there is need to migrate to another level and also boost production.
Omongo was addressing cassava farmers at Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Lira city, west division, during the closure of a two-and-half year project aimed at promoting cassava growing and value chain.
According to NARO, cassava production declined from 2.09 million acres in 2019 to 1.26 million in 2020 due to a number of factors, such as diseases, pests, drought and low prices.
The project, Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Ecosystem, for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Livelihood in Eastern Africa (AIRTEA) to increase cassava production, was being implemented in Lira, Kwania, Apac and Dokolo districts.
Other countries which have been running similar projects under AIRTEA are Kenya and Rwanda, according to Prof. Dora Kilalo, a lecturer at Nairobi University.
NARO and Divine Organic Foods, an agribusiness company based in Lira, took lead in the implementation of the sh400m projects.
Omongo said the crop should be taken at the same level as a prime enterprise, such as sunflower grains, commonly grown in northern Uganda.
“What NARO is doing, with the agriculture ministry, is to remove the virus in cassava, multiply and give clean seed to farmers,” he added.
Omongo added that by now, farmers can differentiate between clean seed and ordinary seed, even if they are the same variety of cassava.
Omongo said the quality of anything gives high value and good price, but there is clean narocash 1 and another which is not clean.
He added that NARO has noted that many farmers in the sub-region love cassava, but what they are growing is not the best.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: NARO has urged Lango farmers to grow cassava for commercial purposes.
