NARO Annual Report 2016 - 2017

Abstract

Word from the Chairman, NARO governing Council

The overarching agricultural challenge in Uganda today is low productivity across all the farming systems. Growth in agricultural Total Factor Productivity (TFP) - a broad index that compares the total output of crops and livestock commodities to the total inputs of agricultural land, labour, capital and material resources, has been estimated at about 2% per year for developing countries as a whole, twice the rate of agricultural TFP growth in sub-Saharan Africa (Fuglie and Rada, 2013).

This underscores the need for new and innovative approaches to accelerate agricultural productivity growth not limited to food security alone but also in- come security. Transforming agriculture from livelihood activity into a pro table business provides the fastest options for feeding, em- ploying and lifting millions of people out of poverty.

Addressing poverty and the risk of food insecurity is an unavoidable moral and development imperative that requires a concerted effort of all sectors of society. Therefore, NARO innovates for agricultural transformation through technology research to ensure food security, wealth creation, employment and job creation among others. Such research initiatives are guided by various policy frame- works and the NARO Governing Council in FY 2016/17 approved the following Policies and Frameworks:

• Communication and Knowledge Management Strategy, 2016-2021; • Levy policy for off-budget research projects; • Criteria for staff promotion; • Internal Audit Manual; • Internal Audit Charter; • Audit Committee Charter; • Performance management policy and appraisal guidelines; • ZARDI Research and Development Pro- grammes.

Prof. Joseph Obua, Chairman, NARO governing Council