Climate Resilient Rice Varieties for Ugandan Smallholder Farmers: A Development and Testing Agenda

Climate resilience is critical for rice production in Uganda's diverse and challenging agro-ecological zones. Field trials were conducted across different regions of Uganda to evaluate the performance of selected seed lines in terms of yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to local climates. A proportion (30%) of tested varieties showed significant improvement in yield stability compared to conventional rice crops under drought stress conditions. The climate resilient rice varieties demonstrated promise for enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers' livelihoods in Uganda, particularly under predicted climate change scenarios. Integrate climate resilient rice into national agricultural development plans and provide targeted training on appropriate cultivation practices to farmers.