Abstract:

Independent researchers, formal research institutions, NGOs and extension workers
develop and/or disseminate technologies with the hope that the level and speed of their
uptake will be high among their target groups. Sometimes these players are themselves
intermediate users that take outputs of research to produce information, technology and
products for end users, who include individuals or groups of farmers, whole
communities, companies, associations, etc.
The government of Uganda launched the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) in
2000 as the linchpin of its Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). The success of PMA
depends on uptake of improved technologies by a significant proportion of farmers, so
government supports their generation, dissemination and adoption and has since 1987
implemented institutional and economic policy reforms to remove distortions in the
inputs and outputs markets.