Today @ASARECA and @FARA kicked off a pre-endline monitoring visit with the first stop-over at a facility belonging to one of the successful farmers in Maracha District, a 30-minute drive from Arua town in the North Western region of Uganda. This is just the beginning of an evaluation visit of #AIRTEA Third Party Projects #TPPs in Uganda. With technical backstopping by researchers of the @narouganda , the team led by ASARECA Executive Director, Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma @AsarecaED interacted with Mr. Patrick Wole Inaku, a model farmer belonging to #TPP 11, an Innovation Platform, which is focusing on aquaculture and related value chains to facilitate learning and knowledge transfer mainly targeting women and youth in the district. All the Steering Committee members of the #AIRTEA Project including the Executive Directors of @FARAinfo, Dr. @aggreyagumya; ASARECA, Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma @AsarecaED ; and the Chief Executive Officer of @EAFFinfo, Mr. Stephen Muchiri are expected to join the two-week activity that is expected to cover six project sites of six #TPPs spread over eight Ugandan districts of Arua, Lira, Dokolo, Bugiri, Kayunga, Wakiso, Mityana, and Kisoro. The AIRTEA Project started in 2021 with a focus on strengthening capacities of #youth and #women involved in multi-stakeholder Innovation Platforms (IPs) and ends this year. It is supported by the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (@OacpsProgramme ) through the ACP Innovation Fund which is funded by the European Union (@EU_Commission ) and is managed by a consortium consisting of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (@FARAinfo ), @ASARECA and the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (@EAFFinfo).

Following a successful monitoring visit to #DigitalConnectors in Bugiri, District in Eastern Uganda on Thursday July 24, 2025, the #AIRTEAProject Steering Committee members comprising Executive Directors of @FARA, Dr. @aggreyagumya; and Dr. @sdbaguma , ASARECA on Friday July 25, 2025 visited #PatiencePaysFarmer group in Kayunga District also in Eastern Uganda, one of the organized groups in Third Party Project #TPP6. This project seeks to enhance access to markets by smallholder farmers, especially women and youth who are engaged in the tomato value chain. The lead implementer, #UgandaChristianUniversity @UCUniversity, has connected these farmers to an off-taker, #DanAgro, a processing firm, which has entered a contract farming arrangement with the group. Through this arrangement, the off-taker has offered the farmers a stable price of Ush 300 (about USD 83) for a standard box of tomatoes, and committed to honour this price on time irrespective of the season and size of tomato. Besides, the off-taker has teamed up with a seed company, Syova, to ensure that quality seeds and pesticides are provided to farmers on credit in addition to training on Good Agronomic Practices. The off-taker also picks the produce on farm. On their part, the farmers have committed to practice Good Agronomic Practices and supply required amounts of tomato to meet the demand of Dan Agro-processing plant. This arrangement has helped stabilize prices for the farmers, which in the past would fluctuate down to Ush100,00 (about USD 27). Through this arrangement, the project has surpassed their target of reaching 300 farmers and instead directly impacted up 500 and about 4000 indirectly. Farmers in this group testify that the arrangement has motivated them to indulge without reservation as they find it gainful compared to their past endeavors. This initiative is made possible through the #AIRTEAProject, which focuses on strengthening capacities of youth and women in multi-stakeholder Innovation Platforms (IPs) to undertake gainful farming. #AIRTEA is supported by the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) through the ACP Innovation Fund which is funded by the European Union (@EU_Commission ) and is managed by a consortium consisting of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (@FARAinfo ), @ASARECA and the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (@EAFFinfo ).

Honoured to have @aggreyagumya, @sdbaguma & @kwakuantwi plant Nilotica shea (Yaa)trees at @DivineOrganicUg-Lira 🌳 Symbolising life, legacy & the future of prosperity for farmers & Actors in our supply chain #Shea Is Wealth.#AmaroFoods #Agroforestry #Sustainability #AIRTEAProject

@ASARECA Ag. Board Chairperson Amb. @KipyegoCheluget accompanied by @ASARECA Policy Program Officer, Ms @JulianBarungi have held discussions with Ethiopian State Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Fikru Regassa at the sidelines of the ongoing UN #foodsystemssummit in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia. The two discussed sustainable Financing of ASARECA’ s transformative programmes for the benefit of its 15 Members States. As one the ASARECA Member States, Ethiopia’s Agriculture Minister is a member of the ASARECA Council of Patron Ministers, while the Director General of Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) is a member of the ASARECA Board of Directors.

The #AIRTEAProjectSteering Committee comprising Executive Directors of @FARAinfo , Dr. @aggreyagumya; @ASARECA, Dr. @sdbaguma ; and the East African Farmers Federation (@EAFFinfo ) Executive Officer, Mr. Stephen Muchiri toured the high-altitude district of Kisoro, the final destination of their two-week monitoring visit of the #AIRTEAProject activities. Located in the Western Uganda region bordering Rwanda and DR Congo, Kisoro is considered a potato hub for Uganda, though ironically, farmers in the district continue to produce below optimum levels. With technical backstopping from Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (@NaroKazardi ), one of the nine ZARDIs of the National Agricultural Research Organization (@narouganda ), the consortium has been promoting one of the prized potato varieties in Uganda—#NAROPOT1—released by @narouganda . Under the #AIRTEAproject, KaZARDI has been promoting Technologies Innovations and Management Practices (#TIMPS) for optimization of #NAROPOT1 among seven farmer groups that form the three Innovation Platformsestablished under the project. The Steering Committee interacted directly with farmers belonging to Chahi Innovation Platform, who testified that belonging to the grouping positioned them well to be selected for support to establish a demonstration plot which was supplied with quality certified seed of NAROPOT1, alongside training in #GoodAgronomicPractices. The farmers testified that adoption of the variety alongside #GoodAgronomicPractices led to productivity increase from 7 to 18.5 tons per hectare. "If you use good seed, you don't error. You are already 40% above the rest," a farmer noted. They also highlighted key challenges including limited access to markets, losses associated with informal cross-border trade, and lack of proper policies to facilitate formal trade. On their part, the Steering Committee advised the farmers to improve on the composition of memberships to the IP to attract maximum benefits, use certified seed, embrace digital marketing tools, and device mechanisms to sustain their gains post the project, which is ending this year. The AIRTEA Project focuses on strengthening capacities of youth and women in multi-stakeholder Innovation Platforms (IPs) to undertake gainful farming. The project is supported by the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) through the ACP Innovation Fund which is funded by the European Union (@EU_Commission ) and is managed by a consortium consisting of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (@FARAinfo ), @ASARECA , and the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (@EAFF).

@ASARECA Ag. Board Chairperson Amb. @KipyegoCheluget together with @ASARECA Policy Program Officer, Ms @JulianBarungi & @CGIARAfrica Dr. John Recha has held discussions with Kenya's Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Amb. George Orina on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit. Amb. Cheluget and his entourage currently participating in the Food Systems Summit, paid a courtesy call on Amb. Orina during which they discussed that strategic importance of ASARECA in the conduct of Agricultural Research for Development and transforming agriculture-based livelihoods in Member States. They underscored the importance of investment in ASARECA’s programs by the Member Governments.

ASARECA Ag. Board Chairperson Amb. @KipyegoCheluget together with ASARECA Policy Program Officer, Ms @JulianBarungi have held discussions with @IFADPresident, Mr. Alvaro Lario at the sidelines of the ongoing #UNFoodSystemsSummit in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia. Discussions centered around deepening collaboration between @ASARECA and @IFAD beyond the current CAADP-XP4 project that is funded by @EU_Commission & managed by @IFAD . Under the CAADP-XP4 Programme, @EU_Commission through @IFAD is strengthening the capacity of @ASARECA alongside @FARAinfo , @CARDESSA, @CORAFNews , and @afaasinfo and their national level constituents and partners to contribute to climate resilient and sustainable agriculture. Direct support from IFAD will go a long way in consolidating gains already achieved via the CAADP-XP4 Programme.

On July 29, 2025, the Chief Executive Officer, the East Africa Farmers Federation (@EAFFinfo ), Mr. Stephen Muchiri joined his colleagues on the #AIRTEAProject Steering Committee comprising Executive Directors of @FARA, Dr. @aggreyagumya ; and @ASARECA, Dr. @sdbaguma in the final leg of the two-week monitoring visit of the Project activities. This time round, they edged the Western Uganda district of Kisoro, bordering Rwanda and DR Congo. The first stop was a courtesy call on the Director and staff of Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (@NaroKazardi ), one the nine Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institutes (ZARDIs) of the National Agricultural Research Organization (@NARO), which focuses on the livelihoods of the farming communities in South Western Highlands Agro-ecological Zone. These highlands are the main area for #potato cultivation in Uganda. According to the Director of the Institute, Dr. Jerome Kubiriba, @NaroKazardi is home to newly released varieties of potato in the country, notably #NAROPOT1. Under the @AIRTEAproject, KaZARDI is promoting Technologies, Innovations and Management Practices (#TIMPS) for optimization of #NAROPOT1 among seven farmer groups that form the three Innovation Platforms established under the project. According to the Principal investigator, Dr. Abel Arineitwe, A senior Research Scientist at @NaroKazardi, the project recorded 90-95% adoption rate in practices that were promoted under the project including #fertilizer use, #pestanddisease control measures, and use of #qualitycertifiedseed, among others. Potato farmers in the intervention areas, according to project reports, recorded an increase from 7 to 25 tonnes per hectare in the intervention areas. The AIRTEA Project focuses on strengthening capacities of #youth and #women in #multistakeholderInnovationPlatforms (#IPs) to undertake gainful farming. #AIRTEA is supported by the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) through the ACP Innovation Fund which is funded by the European Union (@EU_Commission) and is managed by a consortium consisting of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (@FARA), @ASARECA and the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (@EAFFinfo ).

ANNOUNCEMENT | New ASARECA Executive Director We are pleased to announce that Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma @sdbaguma has been appointed as the Substantive Executive Director @AsarecaED of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (@ASARECA), effective July 1, 2025. The appointment was officially made today, June 24, 2025, by the ASARECA Board of Directors, comprising the Directors General of the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) from the 15 ASARECA Member States, during an Extra-Ordinary Board Meeting convened solely to approve the decision. Dr. Baguma, who currently serves as Director of NARO Bulindi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Uganda, brings to ASARECA decades of leadership and scientific expertise. He is also a member of the NARO Governing Council, Uganda’s top agricultural research governance body. As ASARECA enters a new era, we are confident that Dr. Baguma’s leadership will catalyze impactful, collaborative agricultural research and innovation across the region. 🔗 Read the full announcement (asareca.org/14863-2/)

.@ASARECA Executive Director @AsarecaED, Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma this weekend held discussions with the Director General National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Eritrea Dr. Tsegay Berhane in Kampala, Uganda. Discussions centred around the recent learning visit by Eritrea's DG to the National Agricultural Research Organization (@narouganda), Uganda. Dr. Tsegay accompanied by his Deputy Director General Dr. Negusse Abraha toured sites of the National Crop Resources Research Intitute @NARO_NaCRRI to benchmark cutting edge innovations at research programmes including cereals, cassava, and sweet potato among others. The visit was coordinated by @ASARECA as part of its mandate to facilitate learning and sharing of innovations among its Member States

@ASARECA Acting Board of Directors Chairman, Ambassador @KipyegoCheluget accompanied by @ASARECA Executive Director, @AsarecaED Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma @sdbaguma and @IRADCameroun Director General, Dr. @NoeWoin held discussions with the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Cameroon Maddam Tchuinte Madeline at her office in Yaoundé today Thursday June 19, 2025. Ambassador @KipyegoCheluget and Dr. @sdbaguma briefed the Minister about Agriculture Research for Development initiatives underway in the Member States and Cameroon in particular. The minister, flanked by top Ministry Officials, pledged total support for ASARECA, especially by remitting membership fees in time and providing policy guidance on national and regional policies. @ASARECA has camped in Cameroon this week from June 16 to 20 undertaking sensitization and training of IRAD top management as part of ongoing efforts to develop the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) Communication and Knowledge Management Strategy. The CKM development is funded by the @EU_Commission through @IFAD under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme ex-pillar IV (#CAADP-XP4) Programme

@ASARECA Acting Board of Directors Chairman, Ambassador @KipyegoCheluget today joined Executive Director @AsarecaED, Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma @sdbaguma and @ASARECA Secretariat team during the week-long sensitization exercise leading up to the development of Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD). Communication and Knowledge Management Strategy in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Dr. @KipyegoCheluget thanked @IRADCameroun management for collaboration with ASARECA to ensure Communication and Knowledge Management are given priority and a key driver to the conduct of Agricultural Research for Development and Dissemination of research outputs. Dr. @KipyegoCheluget is scheduled to lead a delegation comprising IRAD Director General, Dr. @NoeWoin and @sdbaguma to meet the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Cameroon on Thursday June 19, at her Office in Yaounde. ASARECA is extending support to its Member NARIs to build their capacities in Communication and Knowledge Management with funding from the @EU_Commission through @IFAD under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme ex-pillar IV (#CAADP-XP4) Programme

After meeting the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Cameroon, Maddam Tchuinte Madeline at her office in Yaoundé, today Thursday June 19, 2025, ASARECA Acting Board of Directors Chairman, Ambassador Kipyego Cheluget accompanied by @ASARECA Executive Director, Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma visited Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) headquarters in Yaounde, Cameroon. They held talks with Director the General, Dr. Noé Woin and IRAD Board Chairman Prof. Nnanga Nga. Discussions centered around ASARECA’s role in facilitating transfer of proven agricultural technologies among Member States.

Today, @ASARECA Executive Director, Dr. @sdbaguma Dickson Baguma spent hours sensitizing the top management and IRAD’s external stakeholders on why they should invest in Communication and Knowledge Management (#CKM). Some of Dr. @sdbaguma key messages delivered to IRAD’s top echelons of authority are here: 👍People are the first component in successful management of knowledge. With the right people and investment in them an institutions will have amassed the power and control over knowledge and what happens to it. 👍The ability to generate, manage, and communicate knowledge effectively is paramount to achieving lasting impact. 👍By proactively embracing a robust Communication and Knowledge Management (CKM) culture, AR4D institutions can unlock their full potential, accelerate innovation, amplify their outreach, and ultimately contribute more significantly to a food-secure and sustainable future for all. 👍The time to prioritize and invest in CKM is now, for it is the bedrock upon which the future of agricultural development will be built. This activity is financed by the @EU_Commission through the @IFAD managed Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme ex-pillar IV (#CAADP-XP4) Programme,

IRAD Director General (DG), Dr. @NoeWoin today acknowledged the strategic place of Communication and Knowledge Management in spurring @IRADCameroun, the Cameroonian apex agricultural Research for Development entity to global standards. The DG urged his senior management team to indulge seriously and keenly in the ongoing @ASARECA led sensitization exercise leading up to the development of IRAD’s Communication and Knowledge Management Strategy. “You shall be required to share the knowledge you acquire today to staff who are not able to participate in the training,” he guided his top managers.” Dr. @NoeWoin praised @ASARECA for unwavering support to IRAD in obtaining cutting edge wheat varieties from Sudan for adaptation. “We now have drought tolerant and high yielding wheat varieties, thanks to ASARECA’s cross-border technology transfer efforts,” he explained. ASARECA is extending support to its Member NARIs to build their capacities in Communication and Knowledge Management with funding from the @EU_Commission through @IFAD under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme ex-pillar IV (#CAADP-XP4) Programme,

Join Us at #ACAT2025! ASARECA, in collaboration with AATF and partners, invites you to a Private Sector Dialogue on: "Enhancing the Commercialization and Scaling of Climate Smart and Modern Agricultural Technologies and Innovations to the Last Mile." 📅 Date: Wednesday, 11th June 2025 🕑 Time: 14:00 - 16:00 (CAT) 📍 Venue: AD10 Hall, Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda This engaging session will feature key insights from: ▶️Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma – Interim Executive Director, ASARECA (@sdbaguma) (@AsarecaED) ▶️Ms. Julian Barungi – Program Officer, Policy, ASARECA (@JulianBarungi) ▶️Dr. Joshua Okonya – Program Officer, Agricultural Technology & Innovation, ASARECA (@joshuaokonya) #ACAT2025 #LastMile #ASARECA #AATF #AICCRA #CAADPXP4 @CGIARAfrica, @EUinUG, @IFAD

ASARECA Interim Executive Director, Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma @sdbaguma has urged Governments to invest in harmonization of polices and standards to facilitate the movement of technologies by the East African Community (EAC) @jumuiya and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa COMESA partners states. In a key note speech during the Policy Dialogue to Review Implementation of the East African Community Regional Seed Potato Strategy and Action Plan on May 26, 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda, Dr. Baguma urged national and regional institutions to take advantage of ASARECA's vantage position to coordinate initiatives towards harmonization of policies and standards. ASARECA facilitated strategic partners from the region including the EAC Secretariat @jumuiya, National Agricultural Research Institutes, Ministries of Agriculture, Farmer organizations and group leaders, Private sector actors and Extension workers to contribute to the discourse around potato value chains in the Continent at the ongoing African Potato Association (APA) Conference with funding from the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Progarmme (CAADP-XP4) Programme financed by the European Union @EU_Commission, and the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) @CGIARAfrica Project (aiccra.cgiar.org/), in partnership with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT @BiovIntCIAT_eng funded by the World Bank. The overall objective of the regional policy dialogue is to review the progress of implementation and domestication of the 10-year EAC Regional Seed Potato Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2032. Key outputs if the Dialogue: 🍠Potato value chain actors and key stakeholders were sensitized about existing seed potato regional policies, laws, standards and protocols. 🍠The status of implementation of Regional Seed Potato Strategy and Action Plan was established. 🍠Strategies for articulating seed potato demand and scaling strategies were discussed. 🍠Barriers for implementation of harmonized seed potato policies and standards were identified and documented. 🍠Modalities for tracking implementation of Regional Seed Potato Strategy and Action Plan were discussed and agreed on.

LIVE: Africa has the technology and innovation we just need the right environment for farmers to lead, industry to add value, and research to drive growth. Nothing is impossible where there is will. ~ @sdbaguma Interim Executive Director, @ASARECA concluding the #APAC13

ASARECA Interim Executive Director, Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma has praised African scientists for developing thousands of technologies and innovations for various crops that solve challenges such as diseases and pests, address the effects of climate change, enhance food and nutrition security, as well as offer multiple industrial solutions. He, however, challenged policy makers and industrialists to make appropriate policies to ensure these technologies truly benefit the people and African economies. Dr. Baguma was making closing remarks on behalf of subregional, continental and global partners during the closing ceremony of the 13th Triennial African Potato Association (APA) Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda. The conference convened by @narouganda ended on May 30, 2025.

From May 19–23, I joined the IITA Board in Uganda to chart bold steps for advancing agriculture research in Africa. We reviewed strategy, visited our Sendusu station, and engaged key partners. We toured cutting-edge banana and cassava field trials, including our banana breeding trials—an innovation boosting access to disease resistant varieties. Inside the Tissue Culture Lab, we saw science in action—developing climate-resilient and disease-resistant crops. Productive engagements with @narouganda, @NARO_NaCRRI, @ASARECA, @WorldBank, and @FAOUganda reminded us that partnerships power progress. Thanks to all who made the Uganda visit impactful. Together, we are transforming African agriculture through innovation, research, and collaboration. #Cassava #Banana #FoodSecurity #OneCGIAR #Partnerships #Uganda #Matooke