Abstract:

Agriculture is the main stay of Uganda's economy. It accounts for approximately one-third of the national Gross Domestic Product, 85% of the export earnings and provides employment to over 80% of the population especially in the rural areas. For this reason, Government has put special focus on agriculture during formulation of socio-economic policies aimed at improving peoples' welfare. Uganda's comprehensive development framework is the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). The four pillars of the PEAP are (a) creating a framework for rapid economic growth and structural transformation, (b) ensuring good governance and security, (c) directly increasing the ability of the poor to raise incomes, and (d) directly increasing the quality of life of the poor. Under the goal of increasing farmers' income, Government has formulated and operationalized the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA). The PMA is a holistic strategic framework for eradicating poverty through multi-sectoral interventions. It is aimed at transforming subsistence farmers into market-oriented commercial producers. It is an outcome-focused set of principles upon which intra-and inter-sectoral policies and investment plans can be developed at both the central and local government levels. The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) is a key player in the implementation of the PMA. The National Agricultural Research Policy aims at focusing the NARS on providing research services that address in a sustainable manner, the needs and opportunities of the poor in a market driven environment. The policy is to promote the delivery of high quality and efficient agricultural research services by enhancing the participation and coordination of the public as well as the private service providers. The farmers (particularly the poor women and men) are to be empowered to demand and control agricultural research processes and services, within the wider Government policies of decentralization, liberalization, privatization and increased participation of the people in decision-making, without necessarily compromising sound scientific judgement. The cardinal principles on which the NARS policy is based are: Responding to market opportunities, Empowerment of stakeholders, Scientific Integrity and Professional Excellence, Decentralization of research services, Promoting participation of private sector, civil society and farmers, Separating public funding from research services' delivery, Mainstreaming gender into agricultural research, Social, human and environmental concerns and Quality assurance of agricultural research services. The NARS embraces a cross-section of stakeholders from both public and private institutions. The policy provides for the establishment of an apex body called the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) to take charge of all matters concerning agricultural research in Uganda. The strategies for implementation of the Policy, as guided by the key principles, emphasize collaboration, linkages and partnerships with other stakeholders in the agricultural sector and related sectors, and institutions of local government during planning and implementation of research activities.