Uganda will host the 13th African Potato Association’s (APA) Conference next year (2025) between May 25 and 30.
Speaking at the Uganda Media center, the Director General-NARO, Dr. Yona Baguma, also the President Africa Potato Association, said the conference will be a great learning experience, adding that potato is gaining momentum in the food systems across the world and in the years to come will dominate the food command.
He added that the conference to be held under the theme, “Fostering Climate Smart Cropping Systems for Sustainable Potato and Sweet Potato Value Chains”, provides a great platform to trigger required changes to improve sweetpotato and potato production and competitiveness in Africa by applying new knowledge, tools and technology accessed through the meetings.
“Various stakeholders will be mobilised to tackle both the persistent and emerging production, handling, processing and marketing constrains for these two value chains,” he noted.
The Commissioner Crops Resources and Certification, Dr. Paul Mwambu, noted that in Uganda, the cultivation of potatoes is central to the nation’s agricultural sector and the economy, with an annual production of approximately 1.8 million metric tons.
He revealed that Uganda exports 55,412 metric tons of potato to neighbouring countries against 30,501 metric tons imported.
He revealed that the Government of Uganda, through the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), in partnership with other key stakeholders, especially the International Potato Centre (CIP), has developed a number of sweetpotato and potato varieties that are tolerant and resistant to pests and diseases, are high yielding and nutritious and suitable for agro processing.
He further highlighted that sweet potato is the third most crucial crop in Uganda, following cassava and bananas.