At the climax of the 143rd meeting of the University Council held on Thursday, 6th September 2018, at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute in Kabanyolo (MUARIK), the University Council toured a number of onsite research centres and facilities to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the developments in teaching and learning, research and innovations as well as knowledge transfer partnerships and networking.

Prof. Bernard Bashaasha, the Principal of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES); under which MUARIK falls, received the Chairperson, Eng. Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem and Council Members at the institute.

Prof. Bashaasha emphasized that with the continued support from the University Council and Management, CAES is implementing a number of research projects/programmes. He added that the feedback received during site visits would significantly contribute to the College’s mission of advancing training, knowledge generation and service delivery in order to enhance agricultural development, sustainable natural resource utilization and environmental management.

In a guided tour conducted by Prof. Bernard Bashaasha assisted by the Acting Farm Manager, Mr. Tweyambe Chrysostom, the Makerere University Council visited the following facilities:

• The Biotechnology Lab renowned globally for undertaking continental plant breeding programmes
• The Makerere University Regional Centre for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI) focused on an African continent free from hunger and malnutrition through the provision of improved varieties of food crops in Africa
• The Graduate Laboratory, with state-of-the-art facilities aimed at enhancing the quality of analysis of practical field work for graduate students
• The Modern  Poultry Unit (KOICA) comprising three (3) sub-units with a capacity of five thousand (5000) birds each, a brooder house, a drying shed for dehydrating chicken manure and a microbial facility to grow micro organisms to be used in the fermentation of chicken manure.
• The Coffee Value Addition (CURAD) focused on agri-business incubation to create employment opportunities for students.
• The Dairy Value Chain Unit and the Feed Mill.

Article by: Public Relations Office