Assessing the effectiveness of the contract system of agricultural extension with special focus on the enhancement of demand-driven processes in Mukono district

The government of Uganda (GOU), under the Plan to Modernize Agriculture (PMA), is gradually phasing out the traditional public extension system in favour of a a private extension system. The private extension service provision is being coordinated and implemented by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). The objective of NAADS is to develop a demand- driven, client-oriented and farmer-led agricultural service delivery system particularly targeting the poor and the women. The NAADS system, whose mode of service delivery is contractual in nature, is expected to produce more felt impact on agriculture than the conventional system. However, the new system has no past experience to learn from but to build on its own. This study which was conducted in Mukono, investigated the system's effectiveness in facilitating demand-driven processes. Data was collected at three levels: review of reports and informal discussions with all stakeholders at the sub-county on farmer institution building, attendance of enterprise selection meetings to assess farmer participation and individual interviews held with 180 farmers. Findings revealed that farmers received the program with very high expectations shown by the large number of groups formed in response.