On June 20-24, 2023, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Uganda, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the South-South Cooperation Project between Uganda and China, a 5-day water-saving and drought-resistant rice (WDR) technical training session and "WDR73" variety press briefing was successfully held in Butaleja, Mbale, Eastern Uganda. More than 150 people from 30 administrative districts in Uganda, participated in this event.

Project investigator and members of "Cultivation Technology of Low-carbon Emission Water-saving and Drought-Resistant Rice for Africa" project from Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, SAAS participated in this event and made a presentation.

In the training session, SAAS scientist Liu Zaochang, explained the development trend, current situation, and challenges of modern rice farming, as well as the background, cultivation process and cultivation application scenarios of WDR research. Researcher Zhou Sheng from the Eco-environment Protection Research Institute, SAAS, described the effects of water-saving and drought-resistant rice in reducing carbon emissions as well as the research methods. Through the training session, trainees had all the necessary cultivation skills of water-saving and drought-resistant rice in both theory and practice.

During the training, Mr. Antonio Querido, representative of the FAO in Uganda, highlighted the importance of WDR rice for nutrition, food and income security. Antonio said that FAO is very pleased to support the Uganda government to expand the production of water-saving varieties through South-South Cooperation Project, which would help many rice farmers and growers to improve their income and contribute to economic development.

Dr. Charles Owach, FAO Assistant Representative in Uganda pointed out that compared with irrigated rice and traditional upland rice varieties, the WDR hybrid rice variety "WDR73" in Africa has high-yield potential, and would solve the resource and environmental problem for rice producers. He revealed that in the planting trials in Lukaya, Luweero and Arua, Uganda, the rice yield of "WDR73" achieved from 4.35 tons to more than 6 tons per hectare, more than 30% increasement compared to the local varieties.

Dr. Damalie Akwango Aliau, climate change and adaptation expert of the Uganda Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), praised the technical expertise provided by China and the achievements of South-South cooperation. She hoped farmers would have good rice varieties while protecting the environment at the same time.

It is reported that the outstanding performance of the WDR rice "Hanyou 73" in Uganda was highly recommended by the FAO.