The Impact of Contracted Agricultural Advisory Services on Household Incomes among Farmers in Busia District: A Case Study of Busitema Sub-county.

Abstract

KYALIGONZA W. K. PETER (2008-M093-10129) The Impact of Contracted Agricultural Advisory Services on Household Incomes among Farmers in Busia District: A Case Study of Busitema Sub-county. Sustainable provision of agricultural advisory services to the rural poor and particularly to small scale producers in Uganda has proved to be a big challenge as a result of unsatisfactory effectiveness, financial constraints and changing policies. The study examined the Impact of agricultural advisory services on the household incomes among farmers in Busia district using a case study of Busitema sub-county. It was guided by the following research questions: 1) how does the contracted service provision for National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme work? 2) In which ways have the farmers in Busitema benefitted from the NAADS programme using the contracted advisory service providers? 3) What are the possible strategies to improve delivery of NAADS services? The research employed a case study design. It was mainly qualitative in methodology and in some cases quantitative methods of data collection and analysis using review of records, observation, focus group discussion and interview guides were employed. The area of study, Busitema sub-county was purposively selected for it was a pioneer sub-county in the implementation of the NAADS programme in Busia district. The study established that, whereas considerable resources have been committed to the NAADS programme, its implementation using the private service providers has not facilitated the achievement of positive impacts on the household incomes of the rural farming communities in Busitema sub-county. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that there should be a thorough review and reform of the NAADS programme to an agricultural economic model that is self-propelling and in tandem with the mainstream economy and the government should only provide an enabling environment. The researcher recommends careful situation analysis of the key policies and factors to be addressed in order to bring about practical and sustainable strategies to rural poverty alleviation through agricultural development. Key Words: Contracted, Agricultural Advisory Services, Household, Incomes, Farmers, Busia District