As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and profitability through the Village Agricultural Model (VAM) initiative, the Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), in collaboration with the Busoga Kingdom and the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, is undertaking a transformative step in rice production.
A team of officials led by Owek. Sam Nkenga, Minister of Agriculture for the Busoga Kingdom, alongside rice experts assigned by the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Uganda, has commenced rice planting activities at Nawaibete Swamp, located along the Kibaale–Ivukula Road in Ivukula Sub-county, Namutumba District. This engagement also aims to explore the development of Modern Rice Production in Busoga Sub-region.
Under this partnership, BCD, together with the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Busoga Kingdom, plans to pilot a high-yielding rice variety in Ivukula Sub-County that is expected to deliver up to 200% higher yields compared to traditional varieties currently used by our farmers. This initiative is a key step toward addressing poverty and improving household incomes across the region.
The successful piloting will result into the rolling out of the program across all traditionally rice growing districts of Busoga.
The project is being implemented under the guidance of the BCD Director General, with Owek. Sam Nkenga as ground oversight leader based on his proffessional expertise in Agricultural coordination. The technical team, working closely with local farmers, is actively preparing seedbeds and establishing demonstration plots at the sites, which has been identified for piloting modern paddy rice production techniques.
This initiative reflects the Busoga Consortium’s and Busoga Kingdom’s broader vision of building a socially and economically empowered Busoga through sustainable agricultural transformation.