Once a hub for tobacco cultivation, the West Nile sub-region is witnessing a major agricultural shift as farmers turn to rice for both food and income security, thanks to a new initiative backed by the Government of Uganda and international partners.The Promotion of Sustainable Rice Development Project (ECO-PRiDe), jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is leading this transformation.Now in its second year of a five-year rollout, ECO-PRiDe seeks to enhance sustainable rice production, boost household incomes, and support regional economic growth through training, research, and improved access to certified seed.In Maracha District, 28 farmers graduated this week from a comprehensive hands-on training in rice cultivation under the Musomesa Field School model, which covers the full production cycle—from site selection and field management to post-harvest handling. Upon graduation, the farmers will train others in their communities, reinforcing a farmer-to-farmer extension model that encourages the widespread adoption of best practices.To strengthen the initiative, 13 district agricultural officers from across West Nile—covering Koboko, Maracha, Yumbe, Nebbi, Moyo, Obongi, and Madi-Okollo—have undergone advanced training in rice production under a Training of Trainers programme coordinated by NARO and JICA.Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Nyadri Sub-county, Maracha, Parish Chief Aseru Beatrice praised the partnership, saying that rice farming, backed by funding through the Parish Development Model (PDM), was giving local farmers a viable path out of poverty.JICA’s Mr. Toshinori Katsumata reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s rice value chain, emphasizing that empowering smallholder farmers with practical knowledge, technology, and access to quality seed is crucial for sustainable rural development.NARO’s Head of Communications, Mr. Frank Mugabi, who represented the Deputy Director General for Technology Promotion, Dr. Sadik Kassim, lauded ECO-PRiDe for helping farmers access NARO’s technologies and innovations. He noted that the impressive yields recorded among trained farmers demonstrated how modern agricultural practices can enhance both food and income security, in line with Uganda’s national development agenda.The project is also promoting seed multiplication partnerships with Equator Seeds Limited to ensure farmers have access to certified seed produced by NARO’s National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) in Namulonge. Additionally, it is engaging refugee and host communities in rice cultivation in Yumbe and Madi-Okollo districts, with early results showing promising outcomes.Once dominated by tobacco barns, West Nile’s landscape is fast changing as rice becomes one of the region’s top five crops—valued for its dual role as both a staple and a cash crop.Across Uganda, rice production has grown from under 300,000 metric tons to more than 700,000 metric tons over the last 15 years, with the country now over 70% self-sufficient and poised to become a rice exporter in the near future.The post West Nile Farmers Abandon Tobacco for Rice as New Project Spurs Agricultural Transformation appeared first on The Insider.