Uganda, December 2019

COURSE REPORT (CARD Regional Training)

NaCRRI Training unit, UGANDA

1. Background

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are implementing the second phase of the Promotion of Rice Development Project (PRiDe II). This phase commenced in April 2019, and it will be implemented for a period of 5 years with more emphasis on Research and Extension Linkages. Some of the major project activities include; 1) development of disease resistant rice varieties through research collaborations, 2) improvement of rice extension capacity through conducting Training of Trainers, Training of Farmers and the Musomesa Field School (MFS), and 3) seed production through establishment of a functional seed production system at National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) and target Zonal Agricultural Research Development Institutes (ZARDIs).

PRiDe II in collaboration with NaCRRI Training Unit hosted the first CARD regional Training of Trainers from the 9th to 13th December 2019. Unlike the previous trainings conducted by the project in PRiDe phase 1, this particular regional training was directly organized and facilitated by the Coalition of Africa Rice Development (CARD). The overall aim of this training course is to share experience and knowledge on the rice cultivation technologies developed and accumulated so far, under the PRiDe Project in collaboration with NARO.

The training was facilitated by the Training Unit at NaCRRI which is composed of researchers, technicians and JICA/PRiDe II Experts. The training course was organized and implemented as follows;

1.1     Objective of the training;

1. Strengthen participants’ knowledge on major rice agronomic practices,
2. Share the rice extension activities under the PRiDe II project,

• Engage in deep discussion on the MFS approach.
• Share experiences of Ugandan rice farmers

1. Strengthen collaboration among African countries to boost food security through increased rice production and productivity.

• Explore cultivation trends in Uganda in relation to other African Countries,
• Understand the operational approaches of PRiDe II, designed to achieve increased rice production and productivity.

1.2     Participants

The group consisted of participants from seven African countries; Angola, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Kenya, Mozambique, Ghana and Tanzania. The group had 24 participants from the CARD member countries, together with a JICA Project Formulation Advisor from JICA Ghana Office and one Research Officer from NARO-Uganda, making a total of 26 participants who attended the training.

2. Program

The five-day training program started on 9^th December 2019 and covered topics ranging from theory to practical hands-on training. The training contents encompassed all necessary aspects of rice cultivation inclusive of agronomic practices like rice field selection, seed bed preparation, sowing/ transplanting, post-harvesting handling, pest and diseases control, agro-input use and yield component surveys. The training also offered the opportunity of field visits to the project demonstration sites and farmers’ fields.

During the training, the participants got a deeper understanding of the traits and performance of different rice varieties grown in Uganda in particular and Africa at large, and their potential of production and resistance to disease. The training presented a platform for experience sharing on rice production technology and understanding the benefits of new/improved techniques.

The participants engaged in hands-on activities for both Upland and Lowland rice cultivation like line planting, moderate seed sowing and, paddy field making, nursery bed seeding, transplanting, creating bunds and water management. The trainers employed visual aids in the theory lessons to draw more interest in the lectures. Sample pesticides and herbicides commonly used in Uganda were displayed during the rice diseases and chemical use lecture. This was done with the intention of drawing the attention of participants to seek solutions that can help farmers in their respective duty sites.

A field visit to one of the projects’ Musomesa Field Schools was organized on the 4^th day of the training (12/12/2019). Participants traveled to the eastern region of Uganda in Buwunga Sub-county, Bugiri district, to interact with some of the rice farmers trained by the PRiDe II project. Five farmers shared some of their experiences and benefits of working with the project under the MFS technology dissemination strategy.