BIRDC marks 20th anniversary
The Banana Industrial Research and Development Center (BIRDC) marked its 20th anniversary highlighting significant social and economic contributions to the communities of the greater Bushenyi region.
During a press conference held at the factory premises, Director General Rev. Prof. Florence Mulanga reflected on the center’s milestones. She revealed that the facility now has the capacity to produce up to 10 tonnes of matooke-related products daily. She also revealed that the factory has recently secured ISO certification boosting its credibility and enabling it to expand its market reach internationally including markets in the USA and Asia. She attributed this to high quality of its products.
However, she acknowledged some challenges, notably the limited capacity of local warehouses to absorb all banana produce from the region. This has hampered efforts to domesticate the increasing demand from farmers. She assured that the government has plans to expand the facility within the next two years to address this issue.
Charles Kiberu, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kiruhura District and a board member of BIRDC emphasized the center’s achievements since its inception. He noted that many benefits have been realized both directly and indirectly including employment opportunities for the local population and pioneering research on banana varieties previously considered abandoned.
Dr. Frank Mabirizi, Chairman of the BIRDC Board echoed these sentiments stressing the need for further expansion. He highlighted that such growth is essential to ensure that all farmers across the Ankole region and the country at large are adequately catered for to promote broader economic development.
The center’s 20-year journey underscores its vital role in transforming banana cultivation and processing in the region, with a clear vision for future growth and expanded impact.
