Uganda: Scientists Make Breakthrough in Blight-Resistant Irish Potatoes

National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro) is in the process of breeding Irish Potato varieties that are resistant to late blight, a fungal disease ravaging the crop in farmers’ fields across the country. Via transgenic technology, two varieties are being studied by scientists at Naro’s Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KZARDI), which is located in Kabale. Work started with a mock trial last year. So far, two confined field trials have been conducted at the Institute and the results are promising, explained Dr Alex Bareke, a researcher at KZARDI. More