Summary:

• South Korea pledges ongoing support for agricultural research in Uganda through KOPIA, focusing on modernizing farming practices and benefiting smallholder farmers.

South Korea reaffirms its ongoing commitment to supporting agricultural research in Uganda. The Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) Uganda, led by the newly appointed Director, Dr. Cho Ilho, has expressed its dedication to aiding Ugandan farmers in transitioning from conventional to modern farming methods. This assurance was given during talks between Dr. Yona Baguma, Director General of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), and Dr. Cho at the NARO headquarters in Entebbe. Dr. Cho succeeds Dr. Park Taeson, who served a five-year term.

KOPIA has played a vital role in bolstering NARO’s endeavors to improve agricultural programs benefiting small-scale farmers, with investments surpassing UGX 7.5 billion in the development of potato seeds, citrus, rice, and indigenous chicken breeds using advanced technologies. Noteworthy contributions include support for citrus production management and market expansion in the Teso region, as well as the dissemination of NAROPOT 1, a high-yield potato variety developed by NARO, and superior local chicken breeds to boost household incomes.