By Aggrey Twesigye
The National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) has launched the National Dairy Center of Excellence, a facility aimed at improving dairy production through farmer training, adoption of modern technologies, and better farm management practices.
The center was officially unveiled on Tuesday at the Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Mbarara City.
Presiding over the launch, the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, said the establishment of the facility comes at a crucial time when many farmers are struggling with poor-quality cattle breeds.
He revealed that the government is drafting a policy to criminalize the sale of fake animal breeds, noting that such practices have significantly undermined dairy productivity across the country.
Tumwebaze also urged NARO to prioritize the development of mother gardens for animal pastures, saying that the high cost of quality pasture remains a major challenge for many farmers.
Dr. Yona Baguma, the NARO Director General, said the new center will promote a vibrant and environmentally adaptable breeding program designed to strengthen the country’s dairy sector and improve milk yields.
Catherine Hellen Kamwine, the Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Mbarara, applauded NARO for the initiative but urged the organization to also address challenges farmers face in acquiring machinery for processing livestock feeds.
