The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) announced today, May 16th, 2023, that Uganda will host the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) Agriculture Ministerial Conference (AAMC) from May 17th-19th, 2023, at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Kampala.

The theme of the conference is “Building Resilient Food Systems to Feed Africa for Generations.”

The primary goal of this conference is to debate relevant issues affecting local farmers, as well as to ensure the flow of knowledge and information to farmers in order to improve their adoption of technologies that increase agricultural productivity and commercialization.

The conference is conducted by the government through the MAAIF in collaboration with ASARECA and the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), according to Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries.

According to Kyakuaga, ASARECA has brought together researchers from 14 member nations to share and encourage knowledge and innovation in order to solve common agricultural concerns.

ASARECA is a membership organization that meets every two years as a General Assembly and as a Council of Patron Ministers to debate issues of common concern.

He went on to say that ASARECA collaborates with NARO, agricultural universities, and MAAIF to boost agricultural livelihoods.

Since its creation in 1994, ASARECA has committed USD 17.2 million to catalyze agricultural transformation in Uganda, according to Kyakulaga.

He went on to say that Uganda has accomplished things like:

“Supporting scientists in their fight against cassava brown streak diseases, establishing cassava and potato standards for EAC states, controlling Banana Xanthomnase wilt, promoting quality protein maize in Northern Uganda to address acute malnutrition, combating the striga weed, coordinating the formation of a cassava center of excellence at NaCRRI, and coordinating the generation of research solutions to trans-boundary diseases like Maize Lethal Necrosis

ASARECA is a sub-regional intergovernmental organization comprised of 14 member countries: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Eritea, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Sudan, South Sudan, and Madagascar.Kyakulage further urges Ugandans to welcome the ministers and their delegations and to extend Ugandan hospitality to them.