By ALEX PITHUA

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), in collaboration with the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and Japanese International Cooperation Agencies (JICA) trained 28 farmers in west Nile with hands-on training in rice cultivation in a bid to promote sustainable rice production in the region.

Frank Mugabi, head of communication at NARO, represented the deputy director general for technology promotion Dr. Sadik Kassim during the end of the training ceremony.

While speaking during the graduation ceremony recently in Nyadri Sub-county, Maracha District, Mugabi, observed that as part of capacity building, 13 district Agricultural Officers from Koboko, Maracha, Yumbe, Nebbi, Moyo, Obongi, and Madi-Okollo have been trained in modern rice cultivation technologies under a farmer to farmer approach.

West Nile farmers celebrate after gaining morden skills for rice production from MAAIF and JICA in Maracha district. Photo by Alex Pithua

He noted that the five-year initiative, now in its second year of implementation, to improve farmers’ livelihoods, and contribute to regional economic growth adding that the high rice yields recorded among trained farmers were clear evidence that adopting new modern rice technologies and innovations can create food and income-secure communities, a vision aligned with Uganda’s National Development Goals.

“For decades, West Nile region was synonymous with tobacco cultivation, alongside traditional staples food crops such as cassava and millet, with now rice cultivation taking root and emerging both as a food security and income-generating alternative for farmers, we believe the promotion of sustainable rice development project should be the way to go” Mugabi said.

The Japanese International Cooperation Agencies (JICA) Uganda representative Toshinori Katsumata reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to supporting the ECO-PRiDe project and strengthening Uganda’s rice value chain.

Katsumata noted that as JICA Uganda, they remain dedicated to promoting Agricultural Transformation through technology transfer, farmer training, and research collaboration with National Institutions like National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).

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Katsumata emphasized that empowering smallholder farmers with practical knowledge and access to improved seed and production methods was key to achieving sustainable food systems and rural development.

Furthermore, the Parish Chief Nyadri Sub-county, Maracha District, Aseru Beatrice said rice cultivation, supported by funding from the Parish Development Model (PDM), has strong potential to help local farmers lift themselves out of poverty.

She said Rice cultivation is rapidly gaining prominence in the region and is now ranked among West Nile’s top five most popular crops due to its dual role as both a staple food and a lucrative cash crop.

According to statistics from NARO, nationally, rice production in Uganda has surged over the past 15 years from less than 300,000 metric tons to more than 700,000 metric tons.

Uganda is now over 70 percent self-sufficient in rice production, and experts project that the country could soon achieve full self-sufficiency and even become a rice-exporting nation.

Farmers in Maracha district received rice huller. Photo by Alex Pithua

Alex Pithua is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information