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FOREWORD
The National Agricultural Advisory Services is steadily taking root. Stories of the impact of the benefits arising out of the programme’s provision of advisory services to rural farmers are starting to emerge. Independent studies by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI, 2004) the value of crop production per acre in 02/03 is 15% higher for households that participated in NAADS compared to those who didn’t. In the eight NAADS districts included by IFPRI in this study (Kabale, Mbarara, Iganga, Lira, Soroti, Arua, Iganga and Kapchorwa), the average value of crop production per acre was 27% higher and income per capita was 41% higher than non-NAADS subcounties.

Findings of the Programme Medium Term Evaluation Survey conducted by an Independent Danish Consultancy firm, Scanagri, also confirmed that average yield increases by enterprise reported as a result of adopting new technologies/improved practices rose by 31% for cassava to as high as 140% for beans, 158% for groundnuts and 177% for Bananas (matooke) just to mention but a few enterprises. When the cumulative incremental benefits for the first three years of the programme are compared to the actual costs of the programme to date, the overall results of the analysis shows that an extra income of $10 million per year was generated by the programme. Through better extension coverage, higher adoption rate and increases in acreage, the extra income now generated could easily increase twenty fold to $200 million a year, or about $10 million per district.

Findings of the Programme Medium Term Evaluation Survey conducted by an Independent Danish Consultancy firm, Scanagri, also confirmed that average yield increases by enterprise reported as a result of adopting new technologies/improved practices rose by 31% for cassava to as high as 140% for beans, 158% for groundnuts and 177% for Bananas (matooke) just to mention but a few enterprises. When the cumulative incremental benefits for the first three years of the programme are compared to the actual costs of the programme to date, the overall results of the analysis shows that an extra income of $10 million per year was generated by the programme. Through better extension coverage, higher adoption rate and increases in acreage, the extra income now generated could easily increase twenty fold to $200 million a year, or about $10 million per district.

The stories therefore captured here, demonstrate actual realities behind these figures. They show individual experiences of farmers/farmer groups that have participated in the Programme. Take for instance the story of the 26 young men and women of United Eleku Poverty Eradication Group in Odravu Village, Eleku Parish in Manibe Sub County, Arua District. From their humble beginnings in 2002 when they joined NAADS, they have been able to increase their production more than 4-5 times over a period of 2 years because being able to get timely advisory services and improved technologies from NAADS on groundnuts, maize and beans. Today, the group members have not only tripled their incomes but they are also in the process of building a store for their produce in order to be able to take advantage of better prices through bulking and good post-harvest handling. There are many farmer groups today across the NAADS districts with similar stories. When aggregated across 29 districts and 280 sub counties, it can confidently be said that in a few more years, and with continued Government commitment to fund the programme, life will be significantly better for the 3.5 million rural households in this Country; Household incomes are set to rise, food security to improve and poverty levels to fall significantly.

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