Abstract:

NARO is mandated by the National Agricultural Research (NAR) Act 2005 to undertake
research in all aspects of Agricultural activities in Uganda including crops, livestock,
fisheries, forestry, agro-machinery, natural resources management and socio
economics. The mandate is guided by SDGs 1, 2, 3 and 12; CAADP pillars 3 and 4; the
Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa, aspiration one of Agenda 2063; NDP III;
Uganda’s Vision 2040; the objectives of the Agricultural Sector Strategic Plan plus
NARO’s 10-year strategic plan 2018/19-2027/28. This work plan underpins these
policies and runs under the theme Agricultural Research for Socio-economic Transformation.
It serves as a one-point reference for research and development activities to be
conducted during the fiscal year 2019/20, and as a guide to effective and efficient
implementation of research activities on budget. It is also a means of ensuring delivery
of planned deliverables and, efficient monitoring and evaluation.
Interventions presented in this workplan were arrived at after a highly participatory
exercise which followed review and planning processes from different Public
Agricultural Research Institutes (PARIs) before it was considered and recommended by
NARO Top management to the NARO Council for approval. The workplan highlights
key deliverables from the financial year 2018/19, which include: 20 new varieties, 70
production technologies, 21 CGS mode run studies, 15 technological innovation
platforms established/supported and 60 technological innovations delivered to uptake
pathways from the different research components in NARO’s sixteen (16) PARIs. Also,
it makes mention of advances made under different research extension interfaces
promoted and strengthened in the financial year 2017/18 which include: partnerships,
technology promotion and dissemination, and strategic positioning of NARO for
improved visibility. The workplan highlights progress made in improving internal
controls, strengthening agricultural research capacity, collaborations, promoting good
governance and management plus planning, monitoring and evaluation.