World Bank demands government position on NAADS
By AGENCIES
Posted Sunday, April 21 2013 at 01:00
Posted Sunday, April 21 2013 at 01:00
Mr Rashit Pertev, a senior agricultural
economist, said on Friday that the World Bank was keen to know the
decision government will make about the future of extension services in
the country.
He, however, explained that while the country has
freedom in choosing how to progress with the extension services, World
Bank would not fund any project or service related to agriculture should
government chose to centralise extension services.
Privatising extension services
He explained that it would be strange for Uganda that has for long acted as a model of privatising agricultural extension services, to choose to re-centralise it at a time when many countries in the world are opting to involve the private sector in the delivery of agricultural extension services.
He explained that it would be strange for Uganda that has for long acted as a model of privatising agricultural extension services, to choose to re-centralise it at a time when many countries in the world are opting to involve the private sector in the delivery of agricultural extension services.
Mr Pertev emphasised that agricultural extension
service would have to remain purely private sector-oriented if it is to
attract funding.
“We want a decision on it because at the moment,
there are ongoing projects and we want a decision on it. Indecision is a
killer and at the moment we need clarity from government on what is
happening with Naads. Is it forward with Naads? Is it a enough with
Naads? A decision has to be made,” said Mr Pertev
He observed that many areas of agriculture in the
country had not received support such as funding except the research and
extension prompting Naads to attempt to carry all the weight of all
support expected in the agricultural sector. As a result, he said Naads
has been expected to provide varied services such as rural input, micro
financing and often times become political.
“This is also to do with the fact that
agriculture has been jumping on one foot in Uganda. The need gap in
agriculture was put on to Naads. Naads was everything, rural finance
agency, rural input agency, rural political agency, everything, you name
it everything, everything,” he said.
The concerns by World Bank come in the wake of
debates over the implementation of the project and varied proclamation
by political leaders including President Museveni.
Government response
However, Mr Everest Mulumba, the Naads spokesperson, said the project is on course. He explained that there was likelihood that they would scrap the provision of agricultural inputs and only concentrate on extension and advisory services.
In 2002, government introduced the Naads to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural extension service. However, the programme has attracted criticism over its implementation.
However, Mr Everest Mulumba, the Naads spokesperson, said the project is on course. He explained that there was likelihood that they would scrap the provision of agricultural inputs and only concentrate on extension and advisory services.
In 2002, government introduced the Naads to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural extension service. However, the programme has attracted criticism over its implementation.
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