AID grant agreement no. 623-0103-G-00-3147-00 with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for the establishment of a regional center in Uganda, which will generate distributive technologies geared to increased production of cassava, bananas, and plantains

The Regional Center will be located at the Namulonge Research Station in Uganda. The Center will identify crop pests and diseases; develop and make available to small farmers improved cultivars; introduce integrated pest management techniques, emphasizing plant resistance and cultural and biological pest control; develop improved post harvest processing techniques to enhance crop utilization and storage; introduce rapid multiplication of planting materials; and conduct on-farm adaptive research. The Center will also initiate soil management studies to enhance soil fertility and sustain productivity of crops; establish a base, in collaboration with Makerere University and other regional institutions, for graduate research training; and provide regional in-service training for technicians in production technologies. Finally, the project will provide individual training courses and exchange visits, and produce training materials.