Abstract:

An agricultural information scoping study was conducted in seven districts across the Teso and Lango farming
systems in NE Uganda from January 2000 to January 2001. The most important sources of agricultural information
for intermediary organisations were the local public extension services (FEWs), AT(U) and the national agricultural
res4rch system. AT(U) has the widest sphere and capacity of the NGOs to disseminate information on agriculture.
Linkages with other NGOs, CB0s, universities (MUK), UNFA and Radio Uganda were cited by intermediary
organisations as important sources of information much less frequently than those above. Linkages between civil
society intermediaries and church-based development organisations, and private sector organisations were also
occasionally mentioned.
Intermediary organisations consider demonstrations and show as the most effective mode for the dissemination of
agricultural information. The most common form of information exchange between intermediaries and end users
is t rough verbal interaction. The majority of intermediaries surveyed had little or no purposeful agricultural dissemination strategy. Few supplied written literatures outlining their activities. The most important sources of agricultural information for men and women farmers and groups were neighbours, family and front-line extension workers and Local markets and "middlemen" were also cited as important sources
of Information by farmers, whilst churches, NGOs and schools were cited by less than 20% of the farmer groups
interviewed. Civil society organisations (NGOs and CB0s) were perceived by farmers as locally important in some
areas. Only 29% of groups in remote areas mentioned local markets as a source of agricultural information, compared to over 50% in semi-rural and urban areas. Churches and schools were more important as information sources in remote areas, compared to more urban settings. But demonstrations, visits and seminars were farmers' most preferred
media for information exchange.