NAADS officials Educating Farmers
Residents of Katakwi and Usuk sub counties in Katakwi district have complained about the flawed implementation of the National Agricultural and Advisory Services program- NAADS program. They claim the program seems to benefit specific individuals instead of farmer groups. The residents raised their concerns at a Baraza meeting convened by officials from the Prime minister’s office. Julius Omoding, a resident of Katakwi district questioned the criterion used to select beneficiaries of the program. Omoding alleged that particular individuals and families he didn’t mention benefit from the program each year. He also claimed that seedlings supplied to farmers are not worth the 100,000 budgeted for them.
He cited the five basins of groundnuts given to each beneficiary saying they are only worth 50,000 shillings. Florence Imalingat, other residents questioned the value of goats and cows distributed to the farmers. Each cow is valued at shillings 1.2 million. Imalingat argues that the cows distributed under NAADS are not worth the price since they are not any better compared to the local breeds. She also claimed some families have more than ten beneficiaries on the program, which raises a lot of questions how the beneficiaries are selected. Johnson Olupot, the Katakwi district NAADS coordinator defended the high cost of the input saying that contractors who are selected through competitive bidding cannot allow to supply them at market prices.
He says its government policy that the inputs are supplied by a selected contractor. Olupot promised to follow up on the concerns raised by residents to streamline the implementation of program. The NAADS program was initiated by government with the hope of boosting household incomes through increased agricultural productivity. Under the program, selected farmers receive training on modern farming practices, improved crop and animal varieties. However, throughout the country the program has been marred by corruption, political interference, influence peddling and supply of fake farm implements.