NARO’s Potato Varieties to Boost Production

KAJJANSI-The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has released 13 potato varieties to nine private seed companies for multiplication and provision to farmers at a ceremony held at NARO’s Aquatic Research and Development Centre in Kajjansi.

This is part of NARO’s commercialisation strategy to ensure that farmers access quality seed for increased productivity and incomes.

Dr Sadik Kassim, NARO’s Deputy Director General in charge of Technology Promotion, said at the ceremony that nine private companies signed licensing agreements with NARO.

They are FICA Seeds, Kabale Irish Potato Agri-business Limited (KIPAL), Okeba Uganda Limited, Parlex Enterprise Uganda Limited, Tabid Farm Seeds Africa Limited, Ujamma Seed Company Limited, CADCA Seeds Limited, Sterling Seeds Limited, and Syova Seeds (U) Limited.

The aim is to establish a streamlined system for farmers to access quality seed while generating revenue to sustain research and innovation.

“This is a journey we commenced in 2017 by establishing an Intellectual Property and Commercialisation Unit at the NARO headquarters, and later signed up the first 10 companies in 2021. By last year, we had signed up 26 companies in total for different varieties of NARO technologies.” Kassim revealed.

He also noted that the potato was the first vegetatively propagated crop NARO was handing over to seed companies.

The seed varieties include NAROPOT 7 to 10, bred specifically for industrial use, capable of yielding over 25 tons per hectare, targeting to substitute potato importation. Others are Uganda 11 (Rutuku), Victoria, KACHPOT 1, NAROPOT 1 to 6, and NAROPOT 4, also known as Rwangume.

The NARO Director General, Dr Yona Baguma, noted that “Seed is the beginning of productivity. This milestone affirms our mission to feed the nation, protect the environment, enhance farmer incomes, and strengthen national security.”

He urged seed companies to provide farmers with proper guidance on agronomic practices to ensure the varieties achieve their yield potential. He also pledged NARO’s continued support to the seed companies with a diagnostic system to ensure the seeds’ integrity.

Representing NARO’s Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Dr Abbey Byarugaba hailed the initiative as “the greatest collaboration” between NARO and the private sector for farmers’ benefit. He highlighted that the new varieties mature in just 90 days, making them attractive for smallholder and commercial farmers.  

Private sector players welcomed the partnership. Looking forward to empowering farmers with quality seed and reducing imports,” Mr Narsis Tushabe, Managing Director of FICA Seeds, said access to quality seed remained a major bottleneck for potato production, forcing Uganda to import from neighbouring countries.

The NARO Intellectual Property and Management Committee chairperson, Dr Winnie Nkalubo, said it was a celebration of science meeting societal needs, “After many years of work, we finally have a product to present to the farmers,” she said.

The new potato varieties will be officially launched during the World Food Day celebrations at NARO’s Rwebitaba Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Fort Portal on October 16, 2025.