By Abdullahi Lukman
Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) is promoting drought-resistant and early-maturing cassava varieties in Karamoja to strengthen food security amid prolonged dry spells and increasing climate variability.
Through the Uganda Climate-Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP), NARO has established a 200-acre cassava multiplication and demonstration farm at the Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (ZARDI). The facility is expected to provide quality planting materials to about 6,000 farmers across the region.
Dr Walter Odongo, Director of Research at Nabuin ZARDI, said the initiative is designed to expand farmers’ access to improved planting materials while demonstrating modern cassava production practices.
He said cassava is particularly suited to Karamoja because of its resilience to harsh climatic conditions and its ability to remain in the soil for long periods before harvesting.
Among the varieties being promoted are NASE 14, NASE 19 and NAROCAS 1, which researchers selected for their adaptability, yield potential and relatively early maturity.
Dr Ijara Anthony Raphael, a Senior Research Officer at NARO, said NASE 14 is adaptable to local soils, high-yielding and quick to mature, while NASE 19 also has high yield potential. NAROCAS 1 is being promoted because of its strong performance in different parts of Uganda.
The project is working with about 200 farmer groups through the cassava demonstration programme. Dr Damalie Akwango, UCSATP Coordinator at NARO, said the multiplication facility is intended to increase access to improved planting materials among organised farmer groups.
Researchers say cassava could provide an important food reserve for households in Karamoja because it can be harvested gradually according to need. Unlike crops that must be harvested within a short period, cassava can remain in the ground for more than two years under suitable conditions.
NARO is also using the demonstration farm to change perceptions of cassava in Karamoja, where it is often viewed as a crop that grows without deliberate cultivation.
The site serves as both a source of planting materials and a practical training centre where farmers can learn recommended production techniques. It is also being used to train students from certificate to postgraduate levels in cassava production.
The initiative is providing employment for local residents, with about 50 workers engaged on an average day in activities such as planting, weeding and watering. Many of the workers are women and young people and earn about Shs7,000 per day.
Farmers participating in the programme say the improved varieties could contribute to both food security and household incomes.
Lugel Patrick, a host farmer in Napak District, said farmers trained by NARO are increasingly adopting the improved varieties. He encouraged more households to cultivate cassava as a staple food and as a source of income.
According to Lugel, cassava can be dried, ground and mixed with sorghum for household consumption, while surplus produce can be sold to pay school fees and invest in livestock.
NARO and its partners say the initiative is part of wider efforts to promote climate-resilient crops in Karamoja, improve agricultural productivity and help households withstand drought-related food shortages.
The project ultimately aims to transform cassava from a largely neglected or naturally growing crop into a deliberately cultivated source of food, income and resilience for communities across the region.
