Abstract:

"70% of Uganda's farmers are defined as smallholders (PMA 2000). Smallholder
agriculture has several key attributes that condition the types of information services
needed (Tripp 2001; Chambers 1997):
Large number of independent, small-scale, competing decision-makers;
Wide range of conditions, options, constraints and opportunities;
Widely dispersed with poor infrastructure hampering access to
product and input markets, information, etc.
These aspects of smallholder agriculture require a relatively sophisticated and
differentiated approach in initiatives to enhance farmers agricultural knowledge, and
to improve information flow in the agricultural knowledge and information systems
pertaining in Uganda.
A special study was carried out to develop a simple methodology to assist farmers,
extensionists & researchers to assess their information networks and needs. The
methodology was developed and tested in four parishes in Soroti and Lira districts.
The assessment can be completed in three afternoon sessions with farmers, and can
be easily facilitated by extensionists, scientists and other development workers with
some experience in participatory methods. The assessments are preceded by a
systematic series of interviews with district and sub-county agricultural development
organisations, and participatory mapping of information sources active in the district.