Roles Of Naads In Promoting And Improving Household Income In Masaka District, Uganda

ABSTRACT

Agricultural knowledge and information play a major role in agricultural development,

particularly in food production in Uganda which improves the household income NAADS aims

at improving access to marketing formation, bring technology close to the farmers and all other

facts that concern agriculture. Introduction of modern storage like raised stores, farmer

extension delivery, and modern farming. There is improvement in livestock management as a

result ofNAADS program. One of the influential extension approaches used for the past decades

has been extension~centered approach which focused more on improving efficiency in

agricultural production rather than the educational process. The new National Agricultural

Advisory Services (NAADS) extension program has emphasized a farmer centered approach.

The objectives of the study will be to establish the roles of the local farmers, assess the

performance of NAADS in improving the livelihood of the people, the achievements of NAADS

in the transformation of Agriculture in Masaka District. The study targeted people who

participate in the NAADS policy implementation in the rural areas such as Agricultural

extension workers, Sub County NAADS Coordinator and the farmers who are the major

beneficiaries of the NAADS program. This included 48 peasant farmers who are beneficiaries of

the NAADS program, 4 administrative structure for NAADS natural resources strategy

implementation and 1 NAADS Coordinator. The overall total of the study population will be

53.The recommendations are that the government should increase funding for the NAADS

program in Masaka district since it was found to be improving the livelihood of the peasant

farmers. Corrupt leaders especially NAADS Coordinators and field extension officers should be

penalized and replaced. NAADS is expected to increase with more farmers groups becoming

sustainable including emergence of the large farmers organizations. In conclusion farmers are

directly provided with farm implements and they have to use and enjoy the services directly. In a

few cases farmers who perform well are given the chance to supply NAADS with seeds and

other farm products like piglets and chics. Secondly, the performance of NAADS in Masaka

district was found to be good due to the fact that it has transformed the agricultural sector of

Masaka district through providing quality Advisory Services provided to farmers, promoting adoption of new crop and livestock enterprises that is evidenced by the improved yields and increase in the numbers of goats and pigs per household in Masaka district.