KAMPALA- The National Agricultural research organization (NARO) is urging the government to increase the number of extension workers to be able to reach farmers in sub counties across the country.
NARO that has been pointed out as a center of excellence in Africa, however criticism lies across failures by Government to roll out to the farmers the new technologies of improved varieties developed to enhance food security and improvement of livelihoods in Uganda.
NARO has sixteen institutes consisting of the National Agricultural Research institutes conducting research of strategic importance comprising of the National Agriculture research laboratories at Kawanda, the National crop resources research institute at Namulonge,the National livestock research institute at Maruzi in Apach,Nakisasa where they do vaccine reseach, the National coffee research institute in Mukono among others.
Dr Sadik Kassim the deputy Director General in charge of technologies promotion at NARO,it is possible to roll out the technologies but they are limited by resources.
He is advising farmers who may have access to government research institutes to walk their freely and be able to get educated on good agricultural practices and how to get better yields.
He made the remarks during the induction of newly appointed Pari advisory committee members that took place at the National Agriculture research laboratories, Kawanda.
According to Frank Mugabi the NARO spokesperson, the role of the highly skilled and experienced Pari advisory committee members is to advise management at NARO on how to ran agricultural research and development and improve governance at the institutes.
