NAADS: It is business as usual or un usual?

NAADS is conceptually a good program but it is the implementation that is problematic. There are a number of baffling issues that must be addressed if it is to achieve the intended objectives.
Therefore, following the suspension of the program by the President in September 2007 and its reinstatement in January 2008, one would have expected immediate changes in implementation strategy. However, an examination of the enterprises that are currently being selected by farmers and supported by NAADS indicates that there is still a problem right from enterprise selection to implementation.
Example NAADS has advertised for advisory services in poultry, piggery, bananas, cassava and apiary for farmers in Kalangala District. Farmers have been engaged in these enterprises all their life but nothing much has changed. The questions are: What is it that NAADS is doing differently? What magic is NAADS going to use to commercialize these enterprises?

A number of reviews on NAADS have indicated that the rate of adoption (of technologies being promoted) is low. One such review was carried out by The International Food Policy Research Institute. In its report (2007) titled “Assessing the Impact of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) in the Uganda Rural Livelihoods”, it indicated that despite positive effects of NAADS on adoption of improved production technologies and practices, no significant differences were found in yield growth between NAADS and non-NAADS sub-counties for most crops, reflecting the still low levels of adoption of these technologies even in NAADS sub-counties.

Then, one wonders why the adoption rate is still low after all the trainings farmers have had. May be there is something wrong with the approach. May be these technologies do not make sense to farmers or farmers are not consulted when technologies are being designed and implemented.

Yet, according to the late Nyerere, farmers have been on the land for a long time and therefore, the methods they use are the results of long experience in the struggle with nature; even the rules and taboos they honour have a basis in reason. It is not enough to abuse a traditional farmer as old-fashioned; we must try to understand why he is doing certain things, and not just assume he is stupid.
Additionally, an examination of enterprise farmers have selected for implementation as reported on NAADS website indicates that NAADS is focusing more on the promotion of improved varieties of crops and some other yield enhancing technologies than in promoting improved soil fertility management and conservation of natural resources .

This raises concerns about the sustainability of these enterprises, since they may lead to rapid soil nutrient mining and degradation of natural resources on which they depend. Surprisingly, NAADS strategy on integrating natural resources management in the implementation of activities has largely remained on paper and enterprises that enhance conservation of natural resources are not prioritized

NAADS has also been putting more emphasis on trainings. However, knowledge is of little use unless it is acted upon. Experiences from other projects suggest that farmers do not change their ways of thinking and doing things unless there are demonstrations that convince them that change will lead to a more desirable situation and that farmers will adopt and invest in modern technologies, if the technologies are demonstrated to be technologically and economically viable, are inexpensive and can easily be adapted to their situation.
NAADS therefore, needs to put more emphasis disseminating useful and practical information through well-planned and carefully conducted demonstrations and provision of inputs instead of conventional training programmes.This is because, farm demonstrations serve as one of the most effective extension education tools ever developed.
Lastly, NAADS is one of the seven priority areas in the framework for the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture. In order to provide a complete package, all pillars of PMA were meant to ride side by side. However, the roll out of the pillars has varied. This therefore, means that no synergy has been achieved among the pillars. MAAIF should facilitate the implementation of the other pillars of PMA if NAADS is to have the desired impact.

Ambrose Bugaari
Specialist in Enterprise Development