Munyonyo, Uganda: The Minister for Agriculture, Hon Frank Tumwebaze, has called for intensified investment in value addition, market linkages, and climate resilience in potato and sweetpotato farming, as Uganda hosts the 13th African Potato Association (APA) Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Speaking at the official opening on Monday, May 26, 2025, Tumwebaze commended the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and its network of 16 public research institutes for driving innovation in seed systems, crop resilience, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
“Potato and sweet potato are not just food crops, they are strategic assets in achieving climate resilience, nutrition, and rural transformation,” Tumwebaze told delegates from more than 20 African countries and international partners.
The minister further underscored the need to strengthen postharvest handling and processing infrastructure, citing the rising demand for value-added products such as crisps and chips in urban markets.
The APA conference, organized under the theme “Fostering Climate-Smart Cropping Systems for Sustainable Potato and Sweetpotato Value Chains,” has drawn over 300 participants including scientists, policymakers, private sector actors, and researchers from Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, DR Congo, and the USA, among others.
Dr. Yona Baguma, Director General of NARO and President of the African Potato Association, said Uganda has made strides in breeding improved varieties of potato and sweet potato, including nutrient-rich types that are helping tackle Vitamin A deficiency.
“Uganda has developed purple-fleshed and beta-carotene-rich varieties that are already making an impact across Africa,” Baguma said. “But for us to scale such solutions, sustained and dedicated investment in research is essential.”
Baguma said the conference goes beyond science and data, marking a continental commitment to reposition potato and sweetpotato as drivers of food security, agro-industrial growth, and climate adaptation.
The event also features an exhibition pavilion where institutions and innovators are showcasing advances in mechanization, climate-smart technologies, seed systems, and value chain development aimed at bolstering Africa’s food systems.
Dr. Kassim Sadik, Deputy Director General for Agricultural Technology Promotion at NARO, called for deeper engagement with the private sector to commercialize research outputs and expand farmer access.
Joyce Maru, Regional Director at the International Potato Center (CIP), applauded the Ugandan government for backing science-led agricultural transformation.
The APA Conference is organized by NARO in partnership with the African Potato Association, with support from the International Potato Center (CIP), KOPIA, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It runs until Friday, May 30, 2025.
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