Cassava Applied Research 4 food security Cassava Applied Research for food Security in Northern Uganda is a 3 year project implemented by Africa 2000 Network Uganda (A2N Uganda) and  National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI). The project is designed to improve the food security situation of 2,500 direct beneficiaries of which 60% will be female in districts of Lira and Oyam in Northern Uganda. The project focuses on cassava, the most important staple crop in this region.  To sustainably improve the food security situation, initiatives aim to boost production and utilization and improve market access. The project is being implemented through a co-creation approach, where National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), will work closely with farmers, NGOs, and the Private Sector.  Project interventions will be based on applied research where NACRRI will work with farmers to evaluate and test the near-release six cassava varieties; increasing farmers# knowledge on disease management, increasing farmer access to quality cassava planting materials as well as improve quality of cassava and cassava products for better market access.

To improve food security in northern region, this project will therefore focus on addressing challenges to increased cassava production namely low yields, limited acreage under cassava production per household, high post harvest deterioration and low prices offered for fresh cassava roots and traditional dry chips among others.The project will be an applied research project where NaCRRI together with the other consortium members will evaluate and test the near-release six cassava varieties before they are officially released by Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and also improve access by farmers of the existing varieties namely NASE 14 and NAM 130. Furthermore the project will build the capacity of farmers in improved farming methods, post harvest handling, value addition and marketing. In light of this, the project will help in generating new solutions and knowledge to the problem of food security.

Africa 2000 Network Uganda (A2N Uganda) is a not for profit Non-Governmental Organization implementing various projects aimed at improving food security and increasing household incomes of the small holder farmers in northern region.  A2N is involved in building capacity of value chain actors and it commands a vast experience in organizing small holder farmers into producer associations and registering them, empowering them to a level of getting support funds from the local government and own member savings for sustainability. A2N Uganda core activity is promoting sustainable agriculture among small and medium scale farmers by improving farming practices and agricultural markets. A2N Uganda mission is #promoting sustainable development for quality of life among small elopement and knowledge management and advocacy. A2N has been working with communities in northern Uganda, has key connections in the region and strong relations with local authorities.

The role of A2N Uganda on this project is to mobilise and organise farmers into groups, conduct training in leadership, business planning, appropriate agronomic practices in cassava value addition, storage, processing, branding and packaging and marketresearch.  A2N-Uganda is directly connected to the communities and has strong experience of mobilizing farmers into groups and providing them with technical knowledge on cassava production process thus ensuring consistent supply of raw materials to the processing plant.