Tooro Kingdom partners with NARO to boost agricultural development
Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Steven Kiyingi said the MoU is timely in supporting the King’s ongoing efforts to combat the high rate of stunted growth among children in the region.
FORT PORTAL CITY | The Tooro Kingdom Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to implement joint agricultural activities in the region.
The agreement is a strategic move to foster agricultural development and comes in to compliment the Empango (coronation anniversary celebrations) which is underway in Fort Portal City today.
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The signing ceremony, held at the Kingdom’s Parliament in Fort Portal City on Wednesday, was presided over by the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Mr Steven Kiyingi Frankston, and the Minister for Agriculture, Sabiiti Amooti, with the NARO team led by Director General Dr Yona Baguma and Chairperson of the Governing Council, Dr William Olaho Mukani.
Prime Minister Kiyingi remarked that the MoU is timely in supporting the King’s ongoing efforts to combat the high rate of stunted growth among children in the region.
“Tooro has been reported to have one of the highest prevalences of stunted children despite our fertile soils and favorable climate. This is a problem we are grappling with. This MoU avails us the opportunity to tap into NARO’s technologies to end this challenge,” Kiyingi said.
He added that stunting negatively impacts cognitive abilities, which affects the overall economic and human development indicators in the region. Kiyingi emphasized that while many in the Kingdom engage in "wasteful living," promoting NARO's technologies and innovations could spur productivity and change the narrative.
Dr Yona Baguma highlighted that the partnership, built on NARO's 30 years of agricultural research and innovation, would bring advanced technologies and tailored solutions closer to the people of Tooro, accelerating transformation in line with the Government's aspirations.
“With sixteen public research institutes under our belt, including the Rwebitaba Institute in Tooro, we are committed to delivering technologies tailored to the specific agro-ecological zones across Uganda,” Dr Baguma said.
He added that the interventions would align with President Yoweri Museveni’s broader vision for agricultural transformation, including modernization, agro-industrialization, climate-smart practices, and the promotion of high-value crops such as macadamia, cashew nuts, Hass avocados, and cocoa.
“The partnership will particularly benefit from NARO's extensive research on high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient crop varieties, as well as improved livestock breeds, better pasture varieties, management, and disease control,” Dr Baguma explained.
He added that NARO’s efforts in conservation agriculture and value addition technologies are expected to provide farmers with tools to boost production, income, and climate resilience.
Given the Kingdom of Tooro's fertile soils and scenic landscapes, the interventions will also target the agritourism potential.
“We believe that integrating agricultural activities into the Kingdom's flourishing tourism economy can unlock new potential, adding value to Tooro’s rich heritage and beautiful landscapes. Agritourism will enhance visitor experiences while providing farmers and local communities with sustainable livelihoods,” Dr Baguma noted.
He mentioned plans to establish agrotourism hubs that would enable visitors to participate in farming activities, learn about indigenous knowledge systems, and sample value-added products such as specialty teas, coffee, honey, and dairy products.
Under the forestry sub-sector, NARO will propagate fast-growing, high-yielding tree varieties it has developed to meet the growing demand for timber, firewood, and other forest products, while also supporting reforestation and afforestation efforts.
Furthermore, NARO's research in value addition aims to promote the processing of forest products like honey, mushrooms, and medicinal plants, creating alternative income opportunities for rural communities.
Addressing the fluctuating tea prices in the region, Dr Baguma said NARO is developing new varieties of specialty teas, including green and purple teas, which command higher market prices and offer better income prospects for farmers.
“These specialty teas not only provide economic benefits but also have nutritional attributes and environmental advantages. Additionally, NARO has created various value-added tea products, which we intend to promote among tea farmers and industrialists to diversify their enterprises and enhance profitability,” he added.
The Rwebitaba Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (RwebiZARDI), located within the Kingdom of Tooro, will play a central role in implementing this collaboration while leveraging other government structures, including the agricultural extension system at the Local Government level, ensuring farmers receive the necessary technical support to adopt NARO's technologies and innovations.
The initiatives will also leverage funding opportunities from government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the GROW project for women's economic empowerment to scale up the uptake of these innovations, boosting production and productivity across the region.
Through this partnership, the people of Tooro are set to benefit from NARO’s latest research and innovations, ensuring that Tooro continues to thrive as both a cultural and agricultural beacon in Uganda.
