The Effectiveness of The National Agricultural Advisory Services in the Alleviation of Farmers’ Poverty In Kamwenge District Western Uganda

ABSTRACT This research examined the role of the National Agricultural Advisory Services in a bid to alleviate farmers’ poverty in Kamwenge District situated in western Uganda. The study was guided by four objectives which included establishing the effectiveness and efficiency of the programme in the disbursement and utilisation of NAADS resources amongst the farmers’ groups in Kamwenge district, establishing the composition of the beneficiary farmer groups in terms of scale of farming, age groups, sex and gender composition, and finally establishing the type of enterprises and technologies that were accessed by farmers. The study adopted a research design that employed qualitative surveys which were descriptive in nature. The study targeted a population size of 2,350 farmers and used a sample size of 342 respondents characterised by farmer groups, extension staff, administrators, finance officers and auditors. The research used a purposeful stratified random sampling technique to collect data from various respondents. The research instrument used included interview questionnaires which focused on administrators, extension staff, and farmers in addition to the focus group discussions conducted with farmer groups. Findings from the research indicated that funds accessed by participating farmers were inadequate to realise the objectives of the programme. Extension services were limited to the selected enterprises and technologies. Women were more involved in the NAADS programme activities than men and youth. The research made conclusions on the major technologies that should be promoted in the district, gender involvement in agricultural production, age structure actively involved in production, management and leadership of the farmer groups and funding channels among others.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page

One ThE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

Background & the Study 1

Statement & the Problem 3

Purpose of the Study 4

Research ObjectIves 6

Research QuestIons 6

HypothesIs 6

Scope 7

Geographical Scope 7

Theoretical Scope 7

Content Scope 8

lime Scope 8

SignIficance of the Study 9

Two REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Concepts, Opinions, Ideas from Authors/ Experts 11

Theoretical Perspectives 14

Related Studies 16

Three METhODOLOGY

Research Design 23

Research PopulatIon 24

Sample SIze 24

Sampling Procedure 26

Research Instrument 27

ValidIty and Reliability &the Instrument 28

Data Gathering Procedure 28

Before Data Gathering 28

During Data Gathering 28

After Data Gathering 29

Data AnalysIs 29

EthIcal ConsIderations 30

Umitatlons &the Study 30

Four PRESENTAflON, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETAflON OF DATA 31

Description of the Respondents 31

Profile of the Respondents 31

Extent of NAADS 34

Level of Famiers’ Poverty ftilevlatlon 35

Five FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDAflONS 41

Summary of FIndings 41

ConclusIons 43

Recommendations 44

keas for Further Research 46

References 48

APPENDICES

Appendix I Transmittal Letter 51

Appendix II Letter of Consent 52

Appendix III Research Instrument 53

Researcher’s Curriculum Vitae 65