NAADS Technical and Agribusiness Services Manager Dr Christopher Bukenya says that although they encourage timely planting, delayed rainfall interrupts distribution of inputs and distracts orders to suppliers.
Gen. Saleh says the national programme continues to run in the same mode that has caused 25 operational failures identified by the National Agricultural Advisory Services-NAADS secretariat as major obstacles threatening the success of the program.
Almost half of the heifers distributed to farmers in Apac district under Operation Wealth Creation OWC in the financial year 2015/2016 have died. Col. Godfrey Okello, the Apac District OWC Coordinator, says that of the 73 heifers distributed, 31 have so far died due to what he described as negligence from the beneficiaries.
Parliaments Agriculture Committee wants the distribution of seedlings under Operation Wealth Creation OWC stopped. The legislators, who were recently on a fact-finding mission in several districts, say the government may not be receiving value for money in distribution of coffee, citrus, tea and other seedlings.
The pledge, made in 2012, was to enable youth leaders to elevate their income. The would-be beneficiaries include nine youth council leaders, five National Resistance Movement NRM party Youth League leaders and two District youth Councilors.
The farmers have previously enjoyed huge markets in South Sudan, Kenya, Lira, and Kampala. But they claim buyers from South Sudan vanished after the escalation of violence in Juba last year, yet those from other regions have also reduced over the years.
The inspectorate established that Richard Makhabuli and James Wandwasi Shibanga, both Parish Chiefs of Mukoto Sub-county in Manafwa District caused financial loss of 9,662,898 Shillings which they had drawn for the purchase of iron sheets, maize seeds, and fertilizers under the NAADs program for the financial year 2009/10.
The instruction by Shafick Ssekandi and Emmanuel Musoke, the Resident District Commissioner and District Chairperson respectively followed a report by the District Health Department showing that most homes in the area lacked substantive latrines, bathrooms, kitchen and utensil stands among other facilities.
The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) is working on an agro-based mobile phone application dubbed e-extension services, aimed at giving farmers latest information that they would otherwise have to wait for extension officers to provide. Dr. Samuel Mugasi, the NAADS Executive Director says that a pilot on the project has been carried out in Serere district and will soon roll out in the whole country.
People’s Development Party (PDP) President, Dr. Abed Bwanika, says the new proposal to change the National Agricultural Advisory Services will not yield any tangible results. In her budget speech on Thursday, Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka said the government will change NAADS from its current form to what she calls a single-spine extension system.
The centre has teamed up with the National Agricultural Advisory Services- NAADS and National Agricultural Research Organisation – NARO to help rejuvenate coffee production in Bugisu, Busoga, Bukedi and Sebei sub regions of eastern Uganda.
Agricultural experts have blamed government for failing the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program by focusing more on delivery of farm inputs at the expense of extension and advisory services to the farmers.
Famers in Nebbi are counting their losses after heavy rains destroyed over 200 acres of crops in a Tuesday downpour. The heavy Tuesday rain that lasted six hours has destroyed farms in Jupanjau, Aryek, Pudhi, Pajukwi and Atido.
Despite funds injected to promote silk farming in Kabarole, the project is not bearing any fruits. Several farmers have abandoned the enterprises and are engaged in other enterprises.
Beneficiaries of improved goats under the National Agricultural Advisory Services program -NAADS in Ntoroko district are using the goats for bride price.
The Apac grade one magistrate’s court heard on Thursday, that Bob Odongo, a former Sub County accountant of Ayer Sub County, IN Apac district embezzled more than one million shillings meant for the NAADS programs.
Sandra Ewacabo, the former chief of Oluko Sub County in Arua district has been arrested for allegedly mismanaging 7.2 million shillings meant for implementation of NAADS program in the sub county.
The cockerels that were early this year supplied to Kabale district under the National Agricultural Advisory Services–NAADS program are already being sold on the black market.
