Monday, December 9, 2013

WHO IS BENEFITING FROM NAADS?




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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