Managing change: farmer institutional development under NAADS. A field study on farmer institutions working with NAADS

The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program was launc hed in 2001 to contribute to the overall strategy of development for Uganda. The Governme nt’s core policy objective of poverty eradication is articulated through a strategic framewor k, the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) whose principle goal is to provoke social transformation by raising incomes of smallholder communities. In order to achieve this, the Plan for the Modernization of Agriculture (PMA), spec ifically addressing the reas ons for low productivity, was formulated. NAADS was designed to focus on increasi ng access to knowledge, tec hnologies and information for profitable agricultural production and contribute to income generation through profitable agricultural-based enterprise development to ultimately ameliorate poverty. Theref ore, NAADS is a specific and important part of the PMA. NAADS is built on principles of partic ipation, reducing poverty, strengthe ning farmer liveli hoods and reducing the level of environmental degradation. Further, NAADS activities are oriented towards gender equality and an equitable distribution of benefits. NAADS fi rst 3 years (2001-2003) had the esta blishment and st rengthening of farmer groups (FGs) and farmer for a (FF) at sub-county and di strict levels as a key component. Farmer groups or institutions were to be oriented around identifyi ng different commodity-based enterprises where service needs related to fostering enterprise development would be addressed thr ough service provider contracts issued by the FF. A significant number of groups were in existence prior to 2001 while others were initiated during this inception phase. FG formation a nd registration and sub-county FF establ ishment was initiated after a period of sensitization, involving officials at the sub-county and district levels and the general farming community. Initially the FF were appointed though the aim was to eventually have a proc ess that encourages representative selection from the FGs. The intermediate goal is to create grassroots inst itutions through which farmer demands are articulated, leading to the procurement of extension services.

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