Proceedings of the Mid-Term Review of NAADS
THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The NAADS programme is in its fourth year of its first phase of implementation. The programme design, stipulates that there shall be Annual NAADS Review Meetings and also allows for a Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the program in the third year of implementation. In line with the above, the MTR meeting was held together with the 4th Annual NAADS Review meeting from 31st May to 2nd June 2005 at Hotel Africana, Kampala. However, the meeting focus was on the MTR. The general objective of the MTR was to assess NAADS impact and intermediate outcomes to date and emerging good practices and lesson learned. The MTR also aimed at reviewing programme design based on the diverse lessons and experiences arising out of implementation.
The MTR was a process whereby prior to the meeting, a team of external evaluators (a private firm Scanagri) was contracted to carry out an independent assessment of the programme. Contributing to the external evaluation was data from Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on service delivery and productivity respectively. In addition, an internal evaluation of NAADS programme was undertaken at technical, policy and beneficiary level. The internal evaluation was done by NAADS Secretariat and it involved different stakeholders including the NAADS Board, local governments, beneficiaries and other stakeholders. Members of Parliament (the sessional committee on Agriculture), also participated in the NAADS assessment mainly concentrating on policy issues. NAADS Secretariat and IFPRI also conducted an impact assessment. Information gathered d by the baselines carried out by NAADS secretariat also contributed to the MTR.
The results of the external and internal assessments were presented in a stakeholder meeting, which spanned three days. The meeting brought together more than 200 stakeholders representing different line Ministries; Office of the Prime Minister; Development partners; Members of Parliament; Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA) secretariat; NAADS Secretariat; local and international NGOs, institutions of higher learning, local governments and farmers and other NAADS program implementers.
The Honorable Minister of Finance Dr. Ezra Suruma opened the meeting. In his speech, Dr. Suruma reminded participants that the PEAP has been progressively revised as the overall policy framework to guide poverty eradication efforts, of which NAADS is one. He specifically cited the progress made by Government as follows;
The reduction in the number of people living in absolute poverty; the rise in literacy levels; households are now within 5 km radius to a school; farm productivity and household incomes are rising in sub-counties where NAADS is operating compared to those where it is not and increased coverage of Districts by the NAADS programme and increased farmer participation in the programme.
He however indicated noted areas where there are some gaps namely; ineffective farmer participation in, and access to markets, poor access to capital for investment in production, and the big percentage (85%) of rural households still depending on agriculture for their sustenance. He emphasized the need to intensify farmer institutional development to ensure sustainable market groups/associations. Uptake and sustained use of availed technologies by farmers was noted as a challenge as well as unsuitable credit products for investment in agriculture.
Dr. Suruma indicated the establishment of the rural development strategy (RDS) as one avenue designed to build on the PEAP and PMA frameworks to cause profound improvement in household incomes. The role of NAADS Programme in RDS was emphasised. He reiterated Government’s resolve to adjust the agriculture sector budgetary ceiling so as to avail more funds to priority programmes such as NAADS.
Highlights of the Mid Term Evaluation were given focusing on what NAADS was set to do, what has been done so far, and how effectively and efficiently it was done as regards implementation of the five NAADS components. The programme intermediate impact/outcome, challenges and lessons learnt were presented as well as recommendations for improvement. A financial and economic analysis of NAADS was also given. Policy issues arising out of periodic review of the programme were presented by Members of Parliament. Proposals for the Way Forward for the NAADS programme and its financial implications were highlighted
Of specific importance were the papers presented focusing on NAADS performance since its inception whereby, NAADS performance was looked at from two angles, the overall national perspective and district perspective that focused on Kabarole and Mukono Districts. Papers presented on the review findings reveal high levels of participation and decision making by farmers groups and farmers’ fora (64% in Lira, 87% in Soroti and 75% in Kabarole). The Scanagri MTE survey found that 88% of the farmer groups believed they had greater ownership of the extension system. In addition, the National Service Delivery Service Survey undertaken by UBOS showed that farmers in NAADS districts express a greater demand for specialized extension/advisory services than those in non-NAADS districts. The Scanagri MTE survey also found high levels of awareness about NAADS; around 52% of non-NAADS farmer groups surveyed were aware of the programme and knew it provided training to farmers. Preliminary evidence shows NAADS groups have adopted new technologies after exposure to TDS and training services. 64% of the farmer groups reported replicating some aspects of the technologies provided under NAADS. Independent econometric analysis of survey data also showed a positive impact of NAADS on household crop production and a high return to investment.
During the meeting, the following major issues affecting programme implementation were identified and discussed: Poor markets and market linkages, failure of districts and sub counties to meet their co-funding obligations, limitation of the MTEF ceiling, inadequate capacity of service providers, delayed restructuring and its implication to NAADS, unsatisfactory harmonization of existing agricultural programmes with NAADS, limited youth participation, farmers access to advisory services and political monitoring.
The following recommendations were made focusing on how NAADS can improve its efficiency and effectiveness at the different levels of implementation:
- Review and incorporate the proposed changes in NAADS design as discussed in the MTR;
- Adopting one type of extension system for the Uganda which is more cost-effective;
- Harmonisation of all extension projects/programmes in the country to rhyme with NAADS;
- Putting in place a task force to develop an implementation framework for the Rural Development Strategy (RDS);
- Improving capacity of service providers and ensuring quality of services provided;
- Finalising restructuring under Local Government to streamline roles and functions of production staff and enable delayering;
- Improving farmer-market and research-extension linkages;
- Putting in place a more systematic data collection system
- Waiver of the VAT applied to service contracts under the NAADS programme;
- Computerization of the NAADS Financial Management
- Determining financial requirements for the NAADS programme and mechanisms for its absorption and
- Expanding the resource envelope for the NAADS programme.
Hon. Janat Mukwaya, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, hosted and closed the meeting. In her closing speech, the Minister appreciated all those who participated in the three-day meeting in particular the Development Partners; Central and Local Governments; Farmers; and Political Leadership and thanked Members of Parliament for their participation and support to the NAADS programme. She applauded the quality presentations and fruitful deliberations made. It was noted that there is clear and hard evidence of outcomes and impact of NAADS and therefore NAADS can work. This evidence would now make it possible to achieve the necessary national political consensus and support for the NAADS programme. She was confident that the MTEF ceiling would be revised to accommodate NAADS budget requirements. She reiterated her resolve to advocate for support to the NAADS programme to address challenges affecting its implementation.
The Minister also launched manuals and CDs that have been developed to build capacity of farmer institutions and service providers.
Click here to see detailed report :
NAADS Mid -Term Review Report
