| dc.description.abstract | The research was intended to investigate the limitations and opportunities of the NAADS farmer led and privately serviced extension system in the participating districts of Uganda. The study reviews the 8 chronology of various extension approaches ever used in Uganda. Due to the fact that no considerable improvements in agricultural productivity were realized, the study noted that government decided to introduce a farmer led privately serviced extension service. The objectives of the NAADS approach were to empower farmers to access private extension services with a wider say in its administration and control. The approach also aims at transferring the hitherto publicly serviced extension to the private sector. In order to succeed the NAADS approach needs to address the opportunities and the limitations that characterize an effective delivery system. This research was intended to examine the possible limitations such as the farmers’ readiness and competence to utilize and direct the extension service provision. Opportunities existing in the form of the various institutional frameworks and information channels and sources were also examined. Other factors such as social cultural, political and economic implications were also examined. While constraints affecting NAADS such as those related to structural and coordination issues have been identified and documented, little was known about farmer institutional limitations. In particular information flow and farmers’ knowledge and skills necessary for utilizing the NAADS services by resource poor farmers were unknown, yet such information was vital in the design and implementation of an effective delivery system. The study was made in three of the eight parishes of Nakisunga Sub county in Mukono district. Mukono district was one of the six pilot districts for the NAADS intervention while Nakisunga Sub County was selected due to its proximity advantage. A total of 146 farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions, a workshop and through contacts with key informants. Findings point to a number of limitations due to low levels of education and income. Use of politicians as channel of communication proved disadvantageous as it suffered from partisan information flow. Though the radio and fellow farmers were mentioned as the best channels of technology dissemination, little has been done to take advantage of the two. Among the identified opportunities were the institutional structures in form of farmers’ fora at various levels, the decentralized local government units and the NAADS field arrangements. All these could be used for better information flow. It is hoped that the study will assist in providing information that will improve the design of strategies for more effective extension and advisory services. | en_US |
