RURAL ECONOMIES
In his State of the Nation address, President Museveni
reiterated his frustration with the National Agricultural Advisory services
(NAADS). This is not the first time that the President has expressed his
disappointment with NAADS. The President expressed his frustration with NAADS
during the NRM anniversary where he threatened to disband the entire group. And
I agree!
NAADS has not only frustrated the President, but the entire
Nation. But that is not unusual. Every government agency created to mediate and
to deliver services to the country, has failed. This is partly because most of
them are created with a mindset that they are a political strategy, not an
engine to remove barriers.
Politics, rather than needs, do drive these agencies and the
President should pay much attention to this approach. Every government agency
is susceptible to mismanagement and corruption. The moment they are set up,
their problems begin with the political interference in its administration.
Then tribalism and sectarianism creeps in. Trust that in any organization where
most of it’s officers are employed for political convenience, it will not
deliver. Worse still, when the favor is forecasted on one ethnic base,
corruption and the employment of rudimentary traditional ways of handling
affairs will be customized. NAADS, like all other government agencies suffers
from this disease.
The solution to NAADS is to disband it so as to revitalize Farmers’
Cooperatives. By disbanding NAADS, we shall have done away with this wasteful “middle-man”
such that the NAADS resources can be delivered directly to Farmers’ Cooperatives
based on specified needs of farmers. It is easier to identify and isolate
poorly managed Cooperatives and deal with it than with NAADS.
Further, the National Agricultural Research Organization
should be reoriented to meet the direct needs of the farmers. Much of the NAADS
money should be used to provide agricultural extension services and direct
trainings to the farmers while distribution responsibilities shall be accorded
to Cooperatives. Much of the money can be used effectively to improve storage,
extend rural electrification and for importation of farm implements for
modernization of farming.
The priority of the country right now should be
revitalization of rural economies. There are unlocked potentials in rural
communities which require some little support in infrastructure and
agricultural services. Already in the Countryside the VSLAs are doing very well
with very limited external support.
In Pajule, for instance, the average cost to hire a tractor
to plough one acre of a garden is between 60,000 - 80,000/= depending on
demand, it could be higher. If the farmer has 3-5 acres, the overall cost of
using a tractor becomes counter productive in the long run. This is because
government tractors which were promised during the 2011 Presidential elections
are not accessible to majority of farmers. In fact, I never saw any of those
tractors being used anywhere in Pader district during my extensive exploration
of the district.
NAADS has also been associated with too much politicking and
favouritism. Rural farmers believe that NAADS provides their services to known
NRM supporters who are already doing well. Those who are established are given
more while those who are struggling are neglected. I believe that government
agencies should not be partisan because every Ugandan pays taxes, and at least
every Ugandan is party to foreign debts that Uganda accumulates to fund its
agencies.
The real deal for the wasted NAADS money will be found when
wise investments are made in revitalizing Farmers’ Cooperatives. There proof
that revitalization of rural economies is being fundamentally driven by Farmers’
organizations. The government can support this by delivering to the Farmers the
tools and facilities they need for their production and ensuring that farmers
contribute in shaping the produce markets.
Unfortunately, NAADS is too wasteful and will not deliver as
a middle-man between government and rural farmers. There is need for
revitalization of Farmers’ Cooperatives and investing in them directly.
END!
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