agriculture 23 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
New 80-Day Sorghum Variety Offers Hope for Karamoja's Drought-Stricken Farmers
The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has introduced a new, drought-tolerant sorghum variety, NAROSORG2, which matures in just 80 days, providing a crucial lifeline for farmers in the drought-prone Karamoja region. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/naro-sorghum-variety-offers-hope-for-drought-hit-karamoja-farmers-5606842
Farmers in Uganda’s Karamoja region, currently facing severe food insecurity due to persistent drought, are finding a glimmer of hope in a newly developed sorghum variety. The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has introduced NAROSORG2, a crop engineered to withstand harsh climatic conditions and mature in approximately 80 days, significantly faster than traditional varieties.
This early-maturing crop is seen as a vital tool to combat the region’s increasing food insecurity, exacerbated by unpredictable weather patterns. NARO has established demonstration gardens across Karamoja’s six districts, allowing farmers to witness firsthand the resilience and yield potential of NAROSORG2 under local conditions. These gardens serve as crucial learning sites where farmers can evaluate improved crop technologies and management practices.
According to Dr. Walter Odongo, Director of Research at NARO’s Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute, NAROSORG2 not only thrives in extreme drought but also offers a solution to the problem of predatory birds that often damage sorghum crops in the region. The collaborative approach, involving local agricultural extension staff and farmer participation throughout the growing process, aims to ensure the effective adoption of this technology.
Local leaders, such as Kaabong District LCV Chairman Lotyang Albert Loris, have expressed optimism about the variety’s short maturity period, suggesting it could enable a second harvest season within a year. This increased production potential could significantly improve household food security and income for the Karamoja people, who have been severely impacted by drought. NARO is also supporting seed multiplication to ensure farmers have access to planting materials for this promising new variety.
Dr. Damalie Akwango, Coordinator of the Uganda Climate-Smart Agriculture Transformation Project (UCSATP) at NARO, emphasized that the initiative goes beyond drought-tolerant crops, aiming to empower farmers with technologies that build resilience against climatic shocks. The positive feedback from farmers like Apui John Baptist, who noted its superior performance compared to traditional varieties, underscores the potential of NAROSORG2 to transform agriculture in Karamoja.