Abstract:

NARO under National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL Kawanda) and National Crops Resources Research Institute (NACRRI) intends to develop the natural flavours and colours from bananas and purple-fleshed sweet potato and other crops with potential. The Activity will also seek to achieve three specific objectives namely, i) Facilitate the release and commercialization of varieties, ii) develop improved crop and animal production and management technologies in response to emerging threats and market demand and iii) align research with market needs and mobilize additional domestic resources to support agricultural research. In Uganda, Bananas (Musa spp.) are an important staple and food security crop to more than 3 million households. However, they are mainly utilized for their fruit, leaving huge volumes of by-products and wastes such as Fibres, leaves and banana flowers among others. Sweet potatoes are also an important food crop grown and consumed by majority of Ugandans and excess produce is usually marketed to supplement family income.