In an interview, a NARO Principal Technological Promotions Officer, Dr. Barbara Zawedde Mugwanya disclosed that the organization has turned to including popularizing early maturing inputs in addition to sensitizing farmers about the need to be climate resilient by being less prone to pests.
A farm clinic calculated to serve as a mitigation measure to help farmers cope with the mean and adverse climate change situation has been organized at Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MUZARDI) at Ntaawo, to switch farmers on the system of boosting production while at the same time protecting the environment.
Organised in conjunction with the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic, an initiative of the Nation Media Group, the clinic targeting major production sectors including fisheries, local chicken production, coffee, beans, banana, piggery, vegetables and maize, is intended to train farmers in smart farming for bumper harvest, best farming techniques on limited land, improving local animal breeds to meet modern standards, and pig rearing as a high profitable venture. It is running for two days, Saturday August 23, 2025 and Sunday August 24, 2024.
In an interview, a NARO Principal Technological Promotions Officer, Dr. Barbara Zawedde Mugwanya disclosed that the organization has turned to including popularizing early maturing inputs in addition to sensitizing farmers about the need to be climate resilient by being less prone to pests.
She singled out water harvesting and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in addition to interventions like turning chicken waste into briquettes to cut down on environment degradation through tree cutting for fuel.
Explaining the idea behind popularizing local chicken production, Dr. Mugwanya said that besides being climate change resistant, vaccination is minimal, ensuring less need for chemicals for their growth.
She disclosed that a system of supplying day-old local chicken has been initiated at Ngetta ZARDI in addition to popularizing tree planting as an income generating project, which she said has for long been neglected by farmers.
The clinic was organized by various players including the Bank of Uganda, Pride Bank, media organizations, farm input distributors and other stakeholders. Exhibitions on mechanized best practice post-harvest handling for maize, cassava and other crops were held by various exhibitors.
