The National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) is set to get a state-of-the-art research and management facility.
Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, recently presided over the ceremony to break ground for construction of the facility.
The minister also officially handed the site to the contractor, the National Enterprise Corporation.
Speaking during the event, the minister emphasized the key role of agricultural research in boosting production and productivity in Uganda.
“As a government, we are deliberately supporting our research system with all the requisite infrastructure, both physical and technological to enable them work and innovate solutions for improved livelihoods,” Tumwebaze said.
The minister added; “The quality and quantity of any of our farm yields can only be as good as the seed (plant and livestock) we produce and plant. Bad seed/breed gives you poor or failed productivity, while good resilient seed/breed increases productivity and sustains the farming ecosystem. This is how research becomes critical.”
He applauded H.E President Kaguta Museveni for guiding over the years on the need to prioritize scientific research and innovation in government planning and budgeting and challenged agricultural scientists to always prioritize research that is applicable and impactful.
“We need more research that will directly impact and change the livelihoods of the people and create farming resilience in the face of climate change and harsh weather,” Tumwebaze noted.
Benefits of a Management Research Facility to NaCORI:
The facility will support the effective planning, coordination, administration and implementation of coffee research activities at NaCORI through;
Improved coordination of coffee research activities:
A dedicated management research block will provide office space for research managers, programme leaders and technical staff to plan, coordinate and monitor coffee research activities, including breeding, pest and disease management, agronomy and seed production.
Enhanced research planning and management:
The facility will provide an appropriate environment for developing research proposals, preparing work plans and budgets, reviewing research progress, and coordinating the implementation of institutional and national coffee research priorities.
Improved collaboration among researchers:
A shared office environment will encourage communication and collaboration among coffee breeders, agronomists, plant pathologists, entomologists, soil scientists and other specialists. This will promote multi-disciplinary research and facilitate the development of practical solutions to challenges facing Uganda’s coffee industry.
Efficient management of research data and information:
The facility will provide space for managing research records, analysing data, preparing technical reports and publications, and maintaining digital research databases. This will support evidence-based decision-making and improve the documentation of research achievements.
Improved training and capacity building:
The facility will accommodate meetings, seminars and training sessions for researchers, agricultural extension officers, coffee nursery operators, farmers and other stakeholders. This will strengthen the dissemination and adoption of improved coffee production technologies.
Increased staff productivity and motivation:
Adequate office space, reliable internet connectivity, appropriate furniture and access to essential working facilities will improve staff comfort, efficiency, communication and overall performance.
Increased coffee production and national development:
Through improved research management, coordination and technology dissemination, the facility will indirectly contribute to the availability of improved coffee varieties, better crop management practices, increased productivity, improved coffee quality and higher farmer incomes.