Wednesday, November 14, 2012

WANAINCHI QUESTION THE NAADS EFFECTIVENESS IN KAMWENGE DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENT


During a consultative meeting KALI was presenting findings from the community based monitors and other partners so as to access the effectiveness of the NAADS program and assess the implementation of and delivery mechanism of NAADS in the district.  It is interesting to note that the NAADS program had contributed to increased production, food security, access to market and house hold incomes.  The numbers: NAADS in Kamwenge District is allocated 436,000,000 for technology and the budget is divided as follows, maize 22.80%, banana 12.25%, Diary cattle 12.32%, coffee 12.08% and other 40.55% serving a population of about 324,400 people in the district.  It is surprising that after a small budget analysis NAADS targets to benefits 1344.02 Uganda shilling per person per year, 112.0 shillings per month and 3.6 shilling per day. The question is whether this budget allocation will meet the social Objective of “bona bagagawale” literally meaning prosperity for all? Are we going to be able to meet the MDG’s? My only consolation is that it’s one of the pillars PMA.  It was depressing to note that every money sent for NAADS local government contributes 6% and the farmer contributes 3% but  Dr. Jotham Turiheihi, the Kamwenge District NAADS Coordinator  lamented that  LG’s are limping due to lack of local revenue so much that they  cannot afford the 6% percentage contribution.

Dr. Jotham Turiheihi ( front seat), the District  NAADS Coordinator for Kamwenge  giving facts and figures at the review meeting
The role of NAADS is to give technical guidance to the farmers on how to manage their agriculture enterprise and that would lead to improved productivity in terms of quality and quantity in the three major enterprises selected by the district and these are coffee, banana and cattle diary. Fruit pineapple, oranges mangoes, beans maize, ground nuts, poultry and Goat are promoted for food security. Thanks to special blessings of the two rainy seasons and sunny seasons in Kamwenge that has enabled theNAADs to some achievements in Kamwenge district as   farmers have gone into extensive farming where they can now grow food for home consumption and sell.  Farmer groups of 1340 farmer groups with a total number of 11,558 of beneficiaries can be witnesses to the benefits of the NAADs program but my worry is that this is just 3.56% of the total population of Kamwenge district but where is the participation of 96.44% are they part of the mission of NAADS?  Can I make a projection that by 2015 the number of beneficiaries would be increased to at least 40 %( Miracles happen)
Though the NAADS program seems rosy way of ending poverty for the people of Kamwenge district it still challenged by the fact sometimes agricultural inputs are delivered late without considering the planting season because of the delayed disbursement of funds to the district and to the sub counties as well thus not meeting the intended objectives. The issues of low or poor quality supply by the service providers was addressed the emphasis of community procurement but it was sad to note that based on the findings of the monitors this process has some limitations like manipulation and influence peddling by some NAADS officials or even beneficiaries as well as situations where the committees connive with beneficiaries to procure low quantity or quality. This is explanation is justified in the monitoring findings as  most of the committee members were not oriented in handling the  procurement process and the fact that the procurement committee is not facilitated compromises their integrity. A conflict of interest is not something that cannot go without mention as most beneficiaries are members of the beneficiaries as a result it is not surprising that most of the NAADS beneficiaries are well off people yet we say that NAADS is said to be a pro-poor service. It not surprising that the recovery   of the agricultural inputs which a meant to be given on a loan basis   has not been realized as there are no laws and penalties that are enforced. 
Facts and figures about the NAADs Sector in Kamwenge District,

The consultative meeting with the NAADS stakeholders at Kamwenge Guest home in Kamwenge district was attended around 3 participants who made action plans which will help improve service delivery in the NAADS sector and the among others are advocacy for increased funding for the agriculture sector, advocate for a bi-law on the recovery process, conduct market research, increased civic competence by the farmers to improve service delivery as well increasing oversight monitoring. The meeting was attended by the District naads coordinators, agricultural Service providers, district counselors, the speaker, the Deputy RDC Kamwenge and the LCV chairperson Kamwenge district.  Thanks for the generous support from HIVOS that is supporting RWECO to ensure improved service delivery to the citizens of Uganda.


 By Sheila K
RWECO

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