Public sector extension, in both developed and
developing countries, is undergoing major reforms. In Uganda, these reforms include
privatization of funding, delivery of extension, and decentralization of
authority to lower levels of government, including delegation to NGOs, farmer
organizations, and other grassroots control (Bashaasha et al., 2011). The
decentralization in Uganda has been characterized by a transfer of powers,
functions, and responsibilities for planning and implementation of agricultural
extension services from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and
Fisheries (MAAIF) to district local governments. MAAIF was left with the role
of planning and policy formulation, regulatory functions, technical
backstopping and training, setting standards for and monitoring performance of
the agricultural sector, and managing funds of selected projects. Extension
workers at the district level were put under the direction of the local
district governments (Friis-Hansen and Kisauzi 2004).Following the agricultural policy reforms, the
government has been implementing the Plan for the Modernization of Agriculture.
One component of the plan is the National
Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program which goal is to increase
market-oriented production through empowering farmers to demand and control
extension services. For a full report on the pluralistic agricultural extension system in Uganda, click HERE
IFPRI: Benin, S. et al. 2011. Uganda's National Agricultural Advisory Services Program
Public SectorMinistry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, MAAIFMission: To support national efforts to transform subsistence agriculture to commercial production in crops, fisheries and livestock, by ensuring that the agricultural sector institutions provide efficient and effective demand-driven services to the farming community. Whilst services are provided to the sector as a whole, the primary focus is on resource-poor farmers.
Related articles: http://allafrica.com/stories/201006240689.html Benin, Samuel; Nkonya, Ephraim; Okecho, Geresom; Pender, John; Nahdy, Silim; Mugarura, Samuel; Kayobyo, Godfrey. 2007. Assessing the impact of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) in the Uganda rural livelihoods. IFPRI Discussion Paper 724. Washington D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) (Discussion paper) http://www.ifpri.org/publication/assessing-impact-national-agricultural-advisory-services-naads-uganda-rural-livelihoods , http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/ifpridp00724.pdf
National Agricultural Research Organization, NARO Agricultural Research Information System, ARIS Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institutes Non-Governmental OrganizationsBRAC—the largest NGO in Bangladesh, is also working in Uganda, http://www.brac.net/content/where-we-work-uganda-agriculture-livestock-and-poultry
Farmer Based Organizations
UNFFE is the largest
non-governmental farmers' organization in Uganda. Farmers from all over
Uganda founded this organization in 1992 with the objective to mobilize
the farming community and voices under one independent umbrella
organization.
Director: Anke Weisheit Plot 67, Buremba Road, Kakoba Division P.O. Box 664, Mbarara Uganda Mobile: +256-772-888096, +256-702-888096 Tel. (Office): +256-485-661103 E-Mail (o): aweisheit@excelhort.com | Pre-Service Training for Extension Professionals
In-Service Training for Extension ProfessionalsSAFE, Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education, Programs in Uganda:
Examples of ICT in Extension Related Initiatives
Related ResourcesAssociation of Agricultural Professionals
ARENET is a web portal created to strengthen the links between the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program and its related extension service providers. The National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) is collaborating with the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) in piloting a system for sharing information and knowledge between the research and extension systems. ARENET
is dedicated to helping anyone involved in improving rural farming to
readily access practical, technical and relevant agricultural
information.
Brief overview, see also: http://km.fao.org/vercon/vercon-experiences/arenet-uganda/en/ ASTI Agricultural Research and Development investments and capacity in Uganda: http://www.asti.cgiar.org/uganda |