Budgets to ease food crisis

EAST AFRICA, 13 June 2008 (IRIN) – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, in their budget proposals for the 2008-2009 financial year, announced measures to cushion their populations against soaring food prices.
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Mobile phones and rural business

Some farmers are liaising with buyers who drive from Kenya. Before, they may have waited days for the buyer to arrive. Now,they can stay at their farms until the buyer calls to say he is nearby.
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Uganda: Govt Targets Agricultural Boom

By Peter Nyanzi

Although the rising food prices have caused a global crisis with riots breaking out in various countries, President Museveni has repeatedly said that it is an “opportunity” that should be embraced by Ugandans.
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East Africa: Rising Inflation Hits Region Hard

Polycarp Machira

East African states have been hit hard by the current inflation caused by surging global fuel and food prices.
However, Kenya appears to have suffered the most compared to Uganda or Tanzania.
Statistics show that Tanzania’s rate of inflation stands at 9.7 per cent, a 0.7 per cent increase from last month, while Uganda has a 9.5 per cent inflation rate, representing a 0.9 per cent increase during the same period.
Kenya’s inflation rate stands at 26.6 per cent as of last month or a 5 per cent increase from the previous month.
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Introducing a Genetically Modified Banana in Uganda

Social Benefits, Costs, and Consumer Perceptions

Banana is a staple crop consumed by Ugandan households. The Uganda National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) has implemented conventional and biotechnology programs that seek improving bananas and address the crop’s most important pest and disease problems. A major thrust is the development of genetically modified (GM) bananas.
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Uganda sets up biotechnology centre to study cassava

Uganda’s scientists have set up a biotechnology centre at the National Crops Resource Research Institute (NCRRI) for purposes of modifying cassava.
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Uganda to produce biofuel from cassava

Ugandan scientists have received a grant of $94,000 (sh160m) to conduct a regional study to produce bio-fuel out of cassava, reports John Kasozi.
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African farmers gaining access to disease-resistant, ‘upland’ rice varieties

KAMPALA, Uganda – As concern builds around the impact of rising food prices and new restrictions on rice exports from Asian countries hit by adverse climate conditions, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) announced today that African rice breeders have made critical steps towards ensuring self-sufficiency and boosting African rice production. The successful development and release of stress-tolerant upland and lowland irrigated rice varieties has begun to significantly increase rice production in some countries, including Uganda.
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Two Ugandan bean varieties resist diseases

By John Kasozi

TWO Ugandan bean varieties have been identified by plant breeders as sources of lines that are resistant to diseases. They have also been used to produce the high-yielding NABE 14 and NABE 13 varieties, which are being grown by some farmers.
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Uganda: Scientists develop gene to fight banana wilt

By David Muwanga

Scientists have developed a gene that would be used to develop varieties of banana that are resistant to the bacterial wilt.
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