Researchers under the project ‘Enhancing rice-green gram productivity in Northern Uganda’ met on the 11th of February 2019 at the Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU) in Kampala to take stock of the project, share lessons learned and devise strategies for improvement in the final phase.
The meeting was hosted by Dr. Drake Mirembe of Makerere University under the ICT work package. Among issues discussed centered around the fact that a lot of work has been done on the ground with smallholder farmers for instance, demonstration plots and gardens were established, field trials tested, participatory variety selection of rice and green gram varieties was conducted and training on gender and agribusiness for farmers were also done among other activities. The researchers noted that despite several activities that have been implemented, the team needs to increase its visibility, and document clearly results, and lessons learned for improvement. Mr. Moses Owiny – the Project Administrator of the ERIGNU stressed the need to conduct a midterm review and evaluation of the project to gain a deeper understanding of the relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness of the project in realizing set objectives.
Other researchers stressed the need for the dissemination of technologies in the third phase and the engagement of stakeholders and a wider audience to share lessons and experiences. The Research team is currently working hard on producing journal articles for publications based on project experiences, baseline surveys, and anecdotal evidence generated. Meanwhile, Dr. Drake Mirembe, the Principal Researcher under the ICT Work Package has been invited to an event in Morocco, to discuss the digitalization of agriculture within the context of the ERIGNU Project. Mr. Moses Owiny – the Project Administrator has also been invited to Lagos, Nigeria for the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum 2019 where he is expected to speak about the concept of inclusion of marginalized groups such as women and how gender-sensitive agriculture policy-making is crucial for the advancement and status of women in the agricultural sector.
The overall Project Coordinator in her message delivered by the Project Administrator highlighted the need for realizing set goals and objectives and encouraged researchers to ensure the impact is attained for the benefit of smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda.
The ARF-funded project is supported by NOW-WOTRO and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 3-year project implemented by a consortium consisting of Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), Makerere University, National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and the SNV Development Organization seeks to improve the productivity of rice and green gram crops for smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda.
By
Moses Owiny
Project Administrator – ERIGNU
