KALI a member of RWECO held a dialogue meeting in Kasese to
share monitoring findings from NAADS sector and come up with recommendation for
by-law to hold beneficiaries & other stake holders accountable at district
level. The joint
monitoring exercise was carried out for 6 weeks with the community monitors carried out a
joint monitoring of the NAADs resources in 10 sub counties Kitholhu, Karambi,
MLTC, Bwera, Munkunyu, Kyondo, Kyarumba, Lake Katwe, Katwe Kabatoro t/c and Muhokya and the tools that were used during the
monitoring exercises included: the community score card, sub county/district
budgets for 2013/14/ records with the Naads farmers and interview guides.
Key findings on the naads programs were; currently, over 1200 farmers groups have been
formed in 10 sub counties. The number is expected to increase in NAADs phase
due to village level approach of the program. The NAADs program was reported as
having contributed to increased production, food security, access to market and
household income as before the introduction of the NAADs program, many
households suffered from rampant food insecurity and thus high poverty levels. The reports also showed that the animal
population and food security items have generally increased due to the support
given to NAADS beneficiaries. E.g. Bogoya, Cassava, goats, Cows, chicken, eggs;
fish, access to these is easier than before NAADS programme. The findings
further clarified that most farmers have now gone into extensive farming where they are
producing at large scale and there is value addition. This was witnessed in
Kithothu Sub County, Kyondo and Katwe Kabotooro Town Council.
However, it was reported that some beneficiaries have taken
on enterprises which they cannot manage. For example most of those rearing
animals had challenges of looking after them. Such challenges include; problem
animals from the park, theft, diseases, feeds, drugs and recovery. In Karambi,
Muhokya and Kyondo sub counties 25 Naads beneficiaries had sold off
their input; it was
revealed that farmers receive enterprises late as the planting season ends.
This has forced farmers to change to other enterprises that are not of their choice;
in long run this has affected the sense of ownership. For example in Muhokya
and Lake Katwe S/Cs money for food security came late and farmers had to switch
to other enterprises. The findings also revealed
that most of the agricultural inputs; planting materials are delivered late or
at the end of the planting season. This has affected the performance of the
given enterprise and also the beneficiaries to pay back since most in puts are
given on a loan basis.
Despite the key
findings key question still
remain un answered and these included; ? Will the Ugx. 2.6bn make a change compared
with the Ugx. 2bn of 2012/13? Why is Kasese district food insecure depending on
food from other neighboring districts? What is wrong when we spend Ugx 2bn on
Naads and yet we still import food from out?
KALI would suggested the following recommendations for the
district which include
establishment By-law at subcounty
level that would control the recovery process from the first beneficiaries. Also Food security becomes a top district priority
.An ordinance on production-NAADS programme should be formulated to address the
challenges associated with NAADS implementation. Fish farming in the sub
counties such as Kyondo and the lake region should be supported fully and fish
package be increased to realize their dream. Irrigation in Muhokya needs to be given high
attention in order to realize the NAADS programme. More so areas like Katholhu
cotton belt farms Kinyamaseke and
Kiburara fields should be
supported by the district.
Compiled by:
Sheila K
RWECO Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
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