Performance of National Agricultural Advisory Services projects in Uganda: Does stakeholder commitment matter?
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development
Abstract
The increased poor performance of National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS)
projects in Uganda has become a concern of many stakeholders. Many NAADS projects have been
undertaken with an aim of developing the poor in the country but none of them were successful. This
paper therefore aimed at examining the performance of NAADS projects which were set up by the
government in 2001 to eradicate poverty in Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a cross-sectional and quantitative survey
research design. Data was sought from farmers and coordinators of the projects. Mukono district was
used as a case study and a sample of 323 NAADS projects were used, covering a wide range of
agricultural activities.
Findings – The research findings showed low performance levels of the NAADS projects and raised
pertinent questions on the influence of NAADS stakeholders’ commitment to the performance of the
projects. It was there recommended that an urgent review of NAADS policy and practices be done to
ensure that project managers and coordinators discuss with farmers the personal benefits of carrying
out activities of NAADS such that farmers fill a great deal of personal meaning of the project to their
lives.
Originality/value – This is the first study to document the effect of stakeholder commitment on the
performance of National Agricultural Advisory Services projects in Uganda. The poor people in
Uganda have really not been committed to the NAADS projects despite the willingness of the
government to take them out of poverty. One of the reasons is that they don’t see themselves achieving
any benefits from these projects, the projects require high costs of agricultural extension services
which cannot be afforded by the farmers and also because the poor people lack farmer groups to
participate in the NAADS projects. Rural farmers look as if they do not have technical or professional
connections to participate and take advantage of the projects.
Description
Keywords
NAADS, Project performance, Stakeholder commitment, Project management
Citation
Hassan Bashir Sheila Namagembe Sudi Nangoli Joseph M. Ntayi Mohammed Ngoma, (2013),"Performance of National Agricultural Advisory Services projects in Uganda", World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 9 Iss 2/3 pp. 155 - 167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-01-2013-0011