By: Boy Fidel Leon
NARO’s scientific innovations are moving from the lab to the market, helping Ugandan agro-industrialists expand operations and improve livelihoods. This was evident during a recent business visit by Dr. Yona Baguma, Director General of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), to Sumz Food Industries Limited in Nkoowe, Wakiso District.
Sumz, makers of the popular Sumz snack brand, recently unveiled an expanded production plant to meet growing domestic and regional demand. The company’s growth, Dr. Baguma noted, is closely tied to its partnership with local farmers, many of whom are using NARO-developed technologies.
NARO has positioned its sixteen Public Agricultural Research Institutes to address the specific needs of agro-industrialists.
“We are now running market-led breeding lines, where industrialists define the traits they need in raw materials, and our research teams deliver exactly that,” Dr. Baguma said.
The National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL) in Kawanda are being strengthened to provide industrial support services, including developing product prototypes that entrepreneurs can scale into fully operational industries. According to Dr. Baguma, most of the challenges facing agro-industrialists, whether crop traits or machinery requirements, can be addressed within NARO’s research framework.
During the visit, Sumz CEO Dennis Ngabirano highlighted persistent hurdles around the quality and quantity of raw materials. Mixing different varieties of groundnuts, for example, can cause waste, while intermittent supply sometimes forces production to halt entirely.
These issues are not the farmers’ fault. The root causes must be addressed deliberately, especially through mass multiplication and access to quality seeds and seedlings,” Ngabirano said.
He praised NARO for releasing improved varieties of crops such as groundnuts, Irish potatoes, maize, and simsim, which the company sources from local farmers.
Early last year, the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) approved three groundnut varieties, NARONUT 3R, 4R, and 5R. These are specially developed for industrial use. They offer higher nutritional content and are ideal for products like peanut butter and confectionery. NARO has also released Irish potato varieties, NARO Pot 5 through 10, suitable for crisps and chips.
Sumz, which began producing ripe sweet plantains (gonja), now offers over 30 products, including crispy potato crisps, baked snacks, extruded products, peanut butter, and various honey flavours. The company has also launched Afrikan Harvest, an organic snack line, and Krunchables, aimed at children.
“Our mission is to have Psalms products in every household,” Ngabirano said. Beyond Uganda, the company has expanded into Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. He noted that Ugandan agro-products have a competitive edge in the region due to their superior taste, and that NARO’s support is key to overcoming remaining quality and supply challenges.
Board Chairperson Narcis Tumushabe, who also serves as Managing Director of FICA Seeds, commended NARO for tailoring varieties to industrial needs. He called for more deliberate efforts to increase potato production and strengthen extension services, ensuring farmers handle varieties correctly to prevent complications during processing.
The NARO delegation included Deputy Director General for Agricultural Technology Promotion, Dr. Sadik Kassim; Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Stevens Kisaka; and other senior officials, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to driving Uganda’s agro-industrial growth.
Through partnerships like this, NARO is turning scientific research into tangible industrial results, boosting production, creating jobs, and expanding Uganda’s presence in regional markets.