By Umar Kashaka
The Government has given out a total of 162 motorbikes to 81 districts to support extension workers in their outreach work.
Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze led the team that handed out the motorcycles to the district officials from the sub-regions of Lango, Bunyoro, Greater Luwero, Sebei, Teso, Acholi and West Nile.
“Last year, we dispatched 200 units. It’s our plan to gradually cover, in the medium term, all sub-counties of Uganda,” he said on his X handle.
He noted that effective extension services are key prerequisites for increasing production, productivity and disease control.
“I appeal to district leaders and managers to always ensure that these tools of work aren’t misused,” he said.
The leaders he implored are district chairpersons, chief accounting officers, Residence District Commissioners, as well as the district and sub-county internal security officers.
Extension workers are experts who advise farmers to improve their agricultural practices by checking crop failures, livestock diseases, pests and vectors.
They are also supposed to provide agricultural statistics, regulatory services, agricultural planning and quality assurance for food security.
In the absence of specific training in extension work, most countries, especially in Africa, recruit extension workers from a pool of graduates who have only studied courses related to agriculture.
Parliament approves sh10b
In January this year, Parliament approved sh10b to facilitate a phased recruitment and deployment of a total of 5,335 extension workers this financial year, which began on July 1.
The House also recommended that a shortfall of sh5.4b required by the ministry of agriculture to roll out the e-extension systems across the country for monitoring all the extension workers be provided by the ministry of finance.
This followed the report by its budget committee that the Government projects economic growth over the medium term to an average 7% anchored on anticipated boosts in agriculture, manufacturing, production and productivity.
“One of the strategies under agriculture is strengthening the public extension system, but this is not matched by a budget provision. Statistics indicate that out of the 9,665 required extension workers, only 45% (4,310) are employed, leaving a gap of 5,335,” the committee, which is chaired by Kachumbala County MP, Patrick Isiagi Opolot, said.
Opolot presented the report to the House and said additionally, the ministry of agriculture developed and intends to roll out the e-extension systems for real-time information sharing and monitoring of extension services to districts across the country, which requires sh8b but only sh2.6b is in the projected budget.
“The committee noted that with the implementation of the PDM (Parish Development Model) which has a huge leaning on agriculture, there is more, than ever before, need for effective extension services to guide farmers on the best practices in order to efficiently benefit from PDM,” he said.
The House also recommended that where extension workers have been deployed, a study should be done to assess their impact on agriculture activities in those areas so that corrective actions can be taken where necessary.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze handing out the motorcycles to the district officials. Courtesy photo
