Uganda licenses first private firm to produce tissue culture plantlets

UGANDA – Ugandan smallholder farmers will soon have more reliable access to quality seed potatoes after Farm Inputs Care Centre Ltd. (FICA Seeds) became the first private company in the country licensed to produce tissue culture plantlets and early generation seed potatoes.

The development stems from the Building Resilience and Inclusive Growth of Highland farming systems for rural Transformation (BRIGHT) project, coordinated by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC).

For years, potato farmers in Uganda have struggled to access enough early-generation seed. The National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and its Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KaZARDI) have supported production, but rising demand outpaced their capacity.

Through a public-private partnership fostered by BRIGHT, FICA Seeds now works under national seed certification standards set by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). This makes the company a key player in reducing the country’s seed shortages.

NARO approved FICA Seeds after evaluating its laboratory and technical skills. The firm will handle early-generation seed for potato varieties such as Victoria, KACHPOT 1, Rwangume, Kinigi, NAROPOT 1, NAROPOT 9, and NAROPOT 10.

Starting September 2025, the company expects to deliver about 60,000 tissue culture plantlets each year. These plantlets will generate an estimated 15 metric tons of pre-basic seed, which can be multiplied into 90 tons of basic seed and eventually 540 metric tons of certified seed potatoes for farmers.

Beyond production, FICA Seeds will also train and support screenhouse operators. IFDC noted, “FICA Seeds and KaZARDI signal what is possible when research, regulation, and private enterprise align to serve the farmer at the center.”

The BRIGHT project is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Dutch embassy. It is implemented by IFDC together with Agriterra, MAAIF, NARO, district governments, and private sector partners.

The project focuses on highland regions including Kigezi, Mount Elgon, and Rwenzori, where potatoes serve as both a food staple and a cash crop.

With improved access to seed, experts say farmers will increase yields, raise incomes, and contribute to national food security. For smallholders in Uganda’s highlands, this progress could be life-changing.

By linking government, research, and private firms, the BRIGHT project shows how coordinated action can solve long-standing challenges in agriculture. As the first plantlets reach farms, Uganda’s potato growers now look forward to a more dependable seed supply and stronger harvests.

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