The Role Of Naads Programme In Reducing Household Poverty In Dwaniro Sub County, Kiboga District In Central Uganda

Abstract

This chapter presented the introduction to the study, background to the study, problem statement, purpose/general objective of the study, specific objectives, research questions, scope of study, significance of the study and the key terms. 1.1 Background The National Agricultural and Advisory Services (NAADS) Programme was created in 2001 by an Act of Parliament to specifically address constraints of lack of access to agricultural information, knowledge and improved technology among rural poor farmers in the country. The programme was designed to be a decentralized, farmer-owned and private sector serviced extension system; contributing to the realization of the agricultural sector objectives. The NAADS programme has grown in scope and coverage; from the initial 6 districts, 24 sub-counties to the current 112 districts, 1364 sub-counties and directly benefiting (no) farmers and (no) households to date. NAADS is currently in its second phase of implementation and is implementing the Agricultural Technology and Agribusiness Advisory Services (ATAAS) project. NAADS programme is meant to address such problems in agriculture industry through provision of agricultural advice to farmers. NAADS is designed to eradicate poverty by building on the strength of the poor and small-scale rural producers to improve on their opportunities to escape from poverty. In the past, farmers have been waiting for the extension workers to bring services to them but now the farmers have to identify the advice they need and contract the person to provide it. This person has to be a private service provider (MAAIF 2000). The traditional public provision of agricultural extension services to farmers is now replaced by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). NAADS is supposed to charge user fees to farmers for agricultural extension services rendered to them (such as information, crop prices, farming improvement techniques, livestock consulting services. All this is aimed at enhancing community participation. Government has also moved out of providing credit or small business 1 loans to small farmers and replaces this with a system of interest charging and private microfinance institutions. In order for the NAADS to take effect, government has adopted the following strategies: Creating options for financing and delivery of advisory and technical services appropriate for the different farmer types; Increasing overall spending on agricultural extension from just over O.4% of agricultural GDP currently, to over 3% in the long run; Reducing the share of public financing of farm advisory costs such that by the end of 25 years, NAADS will account for not more than 50%; Shifting from public to private advisory service delivery within the first programme phase of five years; Empowering subsistence farmers to access private extension services and market information and Developing private sector delivery capacity, professional capacity and ethical systems.