Breeding remains a cornerstone of agricultural research, necessitating robust staffing, state-of-the-art equipment, and modern infrastructure to maximize its impact. The Global Breeding Resources Initiative under One CGIAR, with support from the Crop to End Hunger (CtEH) initiative, has been collaborating with the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) in Namulonge and the National Semi-Arid Crop Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) in Serere. This partnership has integrated these institutions into global breeding networks to enhance their breeding capabilities and outputs.
As part of this collaboration, site assessments were conducted to identify opportunities for upgrading breeding infrastructure and operations. These improvements include shared facilities for National and CGIAR partners, making NaCRRI and NaSARRI two of 15 sites in Sub-Saharan Africa selected for such upgrades. Investments have been directed toward modernizing breeding infrastructure, including internet upgrades for enhanced digitization, advanced farm machinery for mechanized plot management, irrigation systems, seed processing equipment, and cold storage facilities with backup solar power.
A significant milestone in this collaboration was marked by the handover of completed facilities and equipment to the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) by Gustavo Teixeira of the CGIAR Breeding Resources Program. Dr. Stevens Kisaka, Director of Corporate Services at NARO, received the equipment on behalf of the Director General. He emphasized that these investments aim to centralize and streamline breeding operations, improve plot management for greater heritability, reduce operational costs, enhance data quality through digitization, and boost overall breeding efficiency.
Staff from the respective institutes will be trained in the use and maintenance of these new facilities, ensuring their sustainability and optimal functionality. These resources will be jointly utilized by NARO, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), fostering a collaborative approach to improving breeding services and advancing agricultural research in Uganda and beyond.