Agribusiness trainers ready for farmers

It can be a safe bet to say that all the participants for the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic in Hoima on July 7 will get more than they bargained for.
Truth be told, the organisers could not have looked beyond these agribusiness experts. They have a wealth of knowledge and the education to match their limitless experience.

Dr Steven Byenkya (Principal Research Officer-Animal Production)
Dr Steven Byenkya holds a PhD in Range Management of Texas A&M University, USA and a MSc in Tropical Animal Production of Edinburgh University.
Currently works with National Agricultural Research Organization, Bulindi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Bulindi ZARDI) as Principal Research Officer with more than 25 years of experience in agricultural research.
His training will focus on grazing management and use of improved forages, feed conservation for dry season feeding focusing on hay and silage, by-products and agro-industrial by-products.

Dr Fred Ssekiwoko (Senior research officer)

Dr Fred Ssekiwoko has a PhD in Plant biotechnology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
He is senior research officer (head of crops and natural resources research programme at Bulindi ZARDI.
The crop expert has specialised in plant diseases and with over 16 years of experience in agricultural research.
He will train the participants on improved banana production technologies and disease management with much emphasis on management of banana bacterial wilt.

Lucy Auma (Crop technician)

Lucy Auma holds a diploma in agriculture obtained from Bukalasa Agriculture College. She works as Crop Technician in crop section. She has fifteen years of agricultural research and extension experience. Her training will focus on banana agronomy, soil and water conservation, and diseases management.

Lucy Auma (Crop technician)

Lucy Auma holds a diploma in agriculture obtained from Bukalasa Agriculture College. She works as Crop Technician in crop section. She has fifteen years of agricultural research and extension experience. Her training will focus on banana agronomy, soil and water conservation, and diseases management.

Lwaki Mulabuke (Livestock production technician)

Lwaki Mulabuke holds a diploma in animal husbandry obtained from Arapai Agriculture College and currently pursuing a Bachelor in Animal Production and management of Makerere University. His duty at Bulindi ZARDI comes as a livestock production technician with four years of agricultural research experience.
He will conduct trainings on basic pig and dairy cattle husbandry practices focusing on feeds and feeding, pasture conservation and feed formulation.

Dr Ronald Kakeeto (Research officer)

Holds a PhD in Plant breeding of University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Kakeeto is also a research scientist (Plant breeding | Crops agronomy | Crop protection).

He has been actively involved in technology development and adaptation with focus on yield enhancement in various crops such as, groundnuts, beans, rice, maize and cassava in the zone.

In addition, Kakeeto contributed significantly as a Ugandan counterpart scientist in NERICA and Rice Promotion Projects under Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

He is currently the acting programme leader technology promotion and outreach at Bulindi ZARDI. He will facilitate learning on improved rice cultivation technologies.

Geoffrey Ozuma (Crop technician)

Geoffrey Ozuma holds a diploma in agriculture obtained from Arapai Agriculture College and currently pursuing a Bachelor in Agriculture and Environment.
He is a Crop Technician in charge of Cassava, maize, beans and Sweet Potatoes demonstrations. He has eight years of agricultural research experience.
He will conduct trainings on improved crop production technologies.

Dr Patrick Kalunda (Socio-economist)

Patrick Kalunda holds a PhD degree in International and Rural Development from the University of Reading, UK and Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics of Makerere University. His research areas include adoption and impact evaluations of research technologies. His training will focus on cost benefit analysis of agricultural enterprises.

Dr Sylvester Dickson Baguma (BulindiZARDI director)

The BulindiZARDI director holds a Master’s degree in Agriculture from Makerere University, a Master’s degree in Management Information Systems from Cranfiled University - UK and a PhD in Knowledge Management from Loughborough University in UK.

Wilber Wambi (Research officer-plant breeder/geneticist)

He also works with Bulindi ZARDI as a Research Officer-Plant Breeder/Geneticist with nine years of professional working experience in agricultural research, crop production, training and project implementation.

Wambi holds a Master degree in Crop science (Plant breeding &genetics) and Bachelor of Science (Botany/zoology) of Makerere University.

His research is focusing on developing new crop varieties for climate smart agriculture aiming at increasing farmer’s resilience to climate change effects.

He also spearheads the screening of bean and millet germplasm for developing new climate resilient crop varieties with improved yield, quality, and resistance/tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

“I will focus my training on improved maize varieties, their production packages and management fall army worm,” says Wambi.

Thaddeus Zaabwe (Aquaculture technician)

Thaddeus Zaabwe is currently working in the Animal Resources Research programme of Bulindi ZARDI, Hoima under the Fisheries and Aquaculture project.
He is very resourceful in fisheries and aquaculture dynamics of breeding, nutrition, fish health and limnology.

Dr Williams Guma Research officer/animal health scientist

Dr Williams Guma holds a master degree of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine of Makerere University. He works at Bulindi ZARDI as an animal health scientist with 15 years of experience in agricultural extension and research. He leads Animal health research in Lake Albert Crescent Agro-ecological Zone (LACZ).. He will train participants/farmers on improved Animal production technologies with emphasis on disease prevention, detection and control.

Ivan Abaho (Research officer /aquaculture scientist)

Ivan Abaho holds a Master’s degree of Science in Zoology of Makerere University and specialised in fisheries and aquaculture.
Currently, Abaho works with Bulindi ZARDI-NARO as research officer with eight years of experience in agricultural research.
He is the acting programme leader, Animals Resources Research Programme. His training will focus on fish rearing facilitates, seed multiplication, fish feed management and value addition to fish.

Josephat Musinguzi (Soil technician)

A holder of a master degree of Science in Soil Sciences of Makerere University, Musinguzi work with Bulindi ZARDI as soil technician with eight years of experience in agricultural research. His training will focus on rice production technologies, soil testing and mechanisation.

Jude Mugisha Abitegeka (Farm manager)

The farm manager with five years of professional working experience in agricultural research, crop production, training and Seed multiplication, holds bachelor’s degree of Agribusiness Management of Makerere University.
He is also responsible for establishing and maintaining on station demonstration fields for best NARO technologies and spear heading NTR generation for the institute. His training will focus on quality seed multiplication with emphasis on banana cultivation.

Williams Odongo (Senior crop technician)

The senior crop technician in charge of cassava and sweet potatoes with thirty years of agricultural research experience, holds a diploma in agriculture obtained from Arapai Agriculture College.
He will train participants on improved technologies of cassava production and value addition.

Williams Odongo (Senior crop technician)

The senior crop technician in charge of cassava and sweet potatoes with thirty years of agricultural research experience, holds a diploma in agriculture obtained from Arapai Agriculture College.
He will train participants on improved technologies of cassava production and value addition.

Lydia Kabasomi (Apiculture technician)

She holds a diploma in bee keeping obtained from Nyabyeya Forestry College and currently pursuing a Bachelor in Botany/Zoology of Makerere University.
At Bulindi ZARDI, she operates as apiculture technician. .
She will train the participants on different bee forages, identification and management of bee pests, queen rearing, and harvesting and processing different bee products (honey, wax, venom, and propolis).