Experts Call for Strengthening Agricultural Extension Services to Boost Sector

Strengthening partnerships between the government, private sector, and farmers will be crucial in achieving food security, sustainable development, and economic growth.

Agricultural experts and policymakers have urged the Ugandan government to bolster its agricultural extension services to bridge the gap between research and practical farming.

This call was made during the launch of the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA) Uganda Report, which highlighted significant challenges within the country's agricultural sector.

The report indicates that despite technological advancements in farming, a large portion of Ugandan farmers still struggles to access vital agricultural services and innovations.

Experts attribute this to a weak extension system, lack of awareness, and limited distribution of improved crop varieties.

Vincent Bamugaya Tumussime, a socio-economic researcher from the Office of the President, emphasized the urgent need for reforming the country’s extension services.

"There is an immediate need to strengthen extension services so that the research being conducted reaches farmers effectively," Tumussime said.

"Right now, many farmers are unaware of the crop varieties available to them. Without proper information, they’re farming in the dark, which is limiting productivity. The government must act now."

Uganda’s agricultural sector faces numerous challenges, including limited access to modern farming technologies, volatile market prices, and the growing threat of climate change.

The SPIA Uganda Report highlights the severity of these issues: while 97% of extension officers provided information on improved maize varieties, only 57% did so for sweet potatoes.

Moreover, a shortage of agricultural officers at the district level exacerbates the situation.

As of 2021, half of the veterinary officer posts and over a third of agricultural officer positions remained unfilled.

Dr. John Ilukor from the World Bank Uganda stressed the importance of revising policies on input distribution and increasing private sector involvement.

"What role does the private sector play in this process? We must assess whether farmers are genuinely purchasing inputs or allocating resources elsewhere," Dr Iluko said.

"Uganda has traditionally relied on subsidies and free input distribution, but with the shift to the Parish Development Model (PDM), funds are now directly transferred to farmers. The critical question is whether farmers are using these resources effectively."

The debate around government subsidies and the effectiveness of direct resource allocation is ongoing. Stakeholders argue that without proper guidance and monitoring, these financial initiatives may not yield the desired outcomes.

The Ministry of Agriculture has recognized the SPIA Uganda Report as an important tool for assessing the reach and impact of modern farming technologies.

"If technologies are developed but fail to reach our farmers, we create a serious gap in agricultural transformation," said Stephen Byantwale Tibeijuka, Commissioner at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Dr. Godfrey Asea from the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) underlined the importance of addressing issues in the agricultural value chain.

"To ensure sustainability and efficiency, the challenges in the value chain must be addressed comprehensively. This report provides essential insights that can refine and improve policy strategies," Dr. Asea noted.

Experts agree that for Uganda’s agricultural sector to thrive, a more inclusive and collaborative approach to Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) is necessary.

Strengthening partnerships between the government, private sector, and farmers will be crucial in achieving food security, sustainable development, and economic growth.

Policymakers must create an enabling environment that fosters competitive partnerships, prioritizes the needs of farmers, and unlocks new opportunities for agricultural transformation without leaving anyone behind.