Abstract:

Ngetta Agricultural Research and Development Centre (ARDC) is located in Lira District and serves the Mid Northern Agro-ecological zone comprising of Lira and Apach districts. It has a tropical type of climate with mean annual rainfall of 1305.3mm. The lowest temperature is in July at 28°C and the highest of 33.°C, in February. The vegetation is savannah grassland with sandy loam soils and flat topography suitable for mechanised cultivation. The majority of the people are subsistence farmers who get agricultural production information from Government institutions and NGOs operating in agricultural related activities. As a contribution to Government policy of poverty eradication and improving the standard of living of the people of the area, NARO, through the ARDC has decided to empower the rural farmers to participate in technology generation, development and dissemination. This is in line with NARO's approach to defining and implementing its research agenda.