JICA Chair II (Program for Japanese Studies): ‘Rice for Modernization of Agricuture in Uganda - Lessons from Japan’

JICA Uganda with the Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) held the second JICA Chair session on 27th, July, 2022, under the theme ‘Rice for the Modernization of Agriculture in Uganda; Lessons from Japan’, to edify students on rice culture in Uganda, while drawing lessons from Japan.

More than 400 participants composed of representatives of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Development Partners, Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations, Academic staff of Makerere University, Students, Rice development cooperation Projects, Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs) and their counterparts, JICA and the Embassy of Japan in Uganda, participated in the 2nd JICA Chair session.

Prof. Goretti Nabanoga, the Principal, CAES, made remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. She informed attendees that Makerere University is working towards research-led and internationalized operations to meet global demands and standards.

The Former Ambassador of Uganda to Japan Hon. James Baba and Former Minister of State for Internal Affairs shared initial high level engagements with the government of Japan leading to the introduction of NERICA (New Rice for Africa) in Uganda and the subsequent dispatch of the first rice technical expert, Mr. Tsuboi Tatsushi.

Amidst rice exhibitions and presenations including the ‘Development of Rice Farming in Japan during the last 150 years', the highlight of the event was Mr. Tsuboi's rice story. He shared: I came on a one-man mission to 7 countries and realized that Uganda was the best for promotion of NERICA rice.

The seasoned rice expert then received the golden jubilee medal from the Ambassador of Japan to Uganda H.E Fukuzawa Hidemoto, which had been conferred to him in May, in his absence. He was recognized by the Government of Uganda for his outstanding contribution to rice development in the country.

About JICA Chair

JICA Chair is a special platform through which JICA seeks to share Japan's unique development experience from which lessons can be drawn by developing countries, and facilitate intellectual discourse on promoting development with locally generated solutions.

The 1st session was held in March 2022 and focused on Japan's foreign policy, post-World War II. This was jointly organized with the Embassy of Japan and College of Humanities, Makerere University, with Prof. Andrea Prosello from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan, as the keynote speaker.