The 22nd of July 2025 has gone in the history of NARO and that of the Agricultural sector as the day of the first ever visit by the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO).
His Excellency Dr. QU Dongyu is the first Chinese Director General of FAO and the first FAO DG to visit Uganda. On his three (3) day working visit, he paid a courtesy call on His Excellency the President of Uganda General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House Entebbe. Later, Dr. QU visited NARO at the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI) – Nakyesasa in Wakiso district. The DG FAO was delighted to come to NARO Speaking to staff of NARO after touring the Livestock Institute facilities and inspecting a grand exhibition of various innovations and technologies of crops, livestock and agro-machinery from NARO,
The chief guest shared his background as a Chinese Science Academy of Agricultural Sciences alumni where he started as a Researcher in 1983 and grew up the ranks to becoming Vice President of the Agricultural Sciences and to becoming a deputy minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and International trade.
” I asked to come to Uganda and see and meet the agricultural researchers. Am so proud of you because in less than 3 years, you have become very comparative in value chain development, you could be the best in Africa”, adding that “I can see you are in the process of transforming from traditional academic institute to a modern service agricultural system to serve farmers and the service industry”, he noted.
While reflecting on his career path as a Scientist, the DG noted that NARO should be scientific and technical but highly recognized by the scientific community, obtain government support for political interface and stakeholders including government, farmers and non-state actors as well as the private sector should recognize your work. For a promising country like Uganda, you need the science-based solutions, data-based approach and innovations to drive the economy from low to middle and high income. He added that “For any commodities to thrive, they need new varieties, new agronomic management and technical transfer”. He observed that there is need for the right alliances, and approaches.
The FAO boss was received at NaLIRRI by the Minister of State for Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) Hon. Frederick Bwino Kyakulaga, the Director General of NARO Dr. Yona Baguma, Commissioners from the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) and staff from NARO.
The Minister acknowledged the assistance given to Uganda by FAO over the many years. ” On behalf of the government of Uganda, I want to thank you. We do not take the good working harmony for granted”. In the same breath. He welcomed the new FAO Country Representative to Uganda Mr. Yergalem Beraki and promised to have a good working relationship with him, just like it was with Dr. Antonio Querido while on his tour of duty in Uganda. Querido now works in Cameroon.
The Minister was grateful to FAO for helping Uganda build value chains from production to marketing along with the private sector, He observed that Cocoa has been chosen as the one country one product initiative of FAO. However, he requested for more collaboration through the guidance of the President of Uganda in the area of livestock vaccine development. He observed that there is a plan to develop a 100acre vaccine and pharmaceutical city in Nakyesasa.
Dr. Yona Baguma the Director General of NARO said that NARO is the engine for agricultural transformation that contributes to the food security, nutrition security, economic security and environment sustainability. He requested for support to advance the horticulture and spices industry, advancing soils sciences and food sciences to take up the diversity of food crops, livestock and turn them into products for human consumption. He asked Dr. QU to connect NARO to the world and help NARO in advancing and applying informatrics, and data analytics to better mankind. Dr. QU Dongyu was accompanied by Uganda’s Ambassador to Italy Madam Elizabeth Paula Napeyok, FAO Country Representative for Uganda Mr. Yergalem Beraki, the Assistant DG FAO and Representative for Africa Mr. Abebe Hailey Gabriel, Regional Coordinator for Africa Ms. Lineo Molise.