Kampala — UGANDA has been named the first East African country to be admitted to the West African Rice Development Association (WARDA).

The September 28 admission follows the country's excellent performance in research in the new upland rice NERICA and her subsequent adoption to rice growing.

WARDA is one of the 15 international agricultural research centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. Other new members are the Central African Republic, the DR Congo and the Republic of Congo.

The admission was announced at the recent session of the Council of Ministers of WARDA in Abuja, Nigeria.

Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck, the WARDA director general, said: "This is the first time since 1987 that new members have joined us. But, more important is the fact that the new members are from the east and central African regions that, unlike West Africa, are not traditional rice growers."

Uganda, like any other member state, will benefit from WARDA's research and development aimed at increasing productivity and profitability from rice.

WARDA's works to alleviate poverty and food security in Africa through research, development and partnership activities.

Other members are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.