Uganda must speed up the transfer of agricultural innovations from research laboratories to farms to strengthen economic growth, national leaders said this week.
The call came during celebrations marking AGRA’s 20 years of supporting agricultural transformation, held at Kampala Serena Hotel.
Leaders said a persistent gap remains between scientific research and the smallholder farmers who stand to benefit most from new technologies.
They stressed the need to strengthen agricultural extension services, expand value addition, and build more competitive local markets.
Officials said the Parish Development Model provides a major opportunity to channel funding to communities and better organize agricultural production.
Over the past two decades, AGRA has supported postgraduate research that led to the commercialization of 56 new crop varieties.
Its programmes have also provided hundreds of thousands of farmers with information on weather insurance and regional market prices.
AGRA-backed interventions have rehabilitated dozens of aggregation centres, helping unlock millions of dollars in private financing for local agribusinesses.
The organisation’s new strategy prioritises improving the competitiveness of key staple crops, including maize, rice and beans.
Leaders said the goal is to build a stronger agribusiness sector that supports food security, creates jobs and promotes sustainable land management.
They added that closer cooperation between government, researchers and private investors will be key to turning Uganda’s agricultural potential into lasting economic growth.