KYENJOJO, Uganda — The National Agricultural Research Organisation is partnering with private sector agro-industrialists to address production bottlenecks and expand value addition for Ugandan farmers.
NARO Director General Yona Baguma led a business delegation this week to major agribusinesses in Mityana and Kyenjojo districts. The visits to Amafh Farms, Clarke Farm and Njojo Agro-based Industries focused on scaling high-value crops including macadamia, coffee and hass avocado.
At Amafh Farms in Mityana, Baguma highlighted the economic potential of macadamia. The 1,200-acre farm has pioneered the crop in Uganda since 2003 and currently manages 700 acres under cultivation.
Baguma said a single acre of macadamia can earn a farmer up to 22 million Ugandan shillings annually. Because the trees can live for more than 100 years, he noted the crop offers a lifetime of stable income.
Amafh Farms Managing Director Morvi Asim said global demand for macadamia significantly outstrips supply. Through the Macadamia Outgrower Extension Project, the company aims to work with 250,000 small-scale farmers to plant 25 million trees.
NARO and Amafh signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a reliable national seed system and address emerging pests. NARO also plans to breed varieties adapted for drought-prone regions such as Karamoja and West Nile.
In Kyenjojo, the delegation visited the 2,200-acre Clarke Farm, which focuses on coffee production. Farm manager Sylvester Kyendi said the partnership with NARO will prioritize developing a lowland Arabica coffee variety. Arabica typically fetches premium prices but is traditionally grown in high-altitude areas.
The visit concluded at Njojo Agro-based Industries, the only processor of virgin hass avocado oil in Uganda. Founder Robert Rusoke, who also serves as Uganda’s head of mission to Rwanda, said the engagement supports his vision of building industrial value chains in the Rwenzori region.
NARO and Njojo agreed to collaborate on disease management and expanding the out-grower model to boost local productivity.
Baguma said the initiative follows a directive from President Yoweri Museveni to use innovation as a driver for socio-economic transformation and to increase household incomes across the country.
