Agricultural extension services and farmer groups in Uganda: case study of Mukono district

The study focuses on agricultural extension services and farmer groups in Uganda. The purpose of the study was to analyse how the agricultural extension services have enabled the farmer groups improve on their productivity (yields). Specifically looked at how advice on farmers needs was related FID activities in farmer groups. How gender equality had been promoted in farmer groups. And how participation had been enhanced in farmer groups. As findings revealed , Farmer Institutional Development activities in Mukono district were related to the farmer needs, however the adoption of skills was low. The other challenge faced by the farmers was price instability, food insecurity, market linkage, gender issues such as limited access to ownership and control of land thus limiting the agricultural production. The gender roles were not shared equally by the men and women. Participation had been enhanced through the decision making process, information sharing consultation between farmer groups and policy implementers has been practised. In conclusion, farmers’ needs can be addressed through farmers forming higher level institutions that will engage the farmers in broader production, marketing and collective action. NAADS Gender strategy needs to be improved to include an affirmative action for issues such as land ownership, use and control, shared gender roles. To evaluate Participation, yard sticks and performance indicators should be formulated to measure the involvement of the farmer groups in information sharing, decision making process and consultation with the policy implementers. -- Relevance to Development Studies -- Literature provides information on the importance of agricultural extension services, how they can be reconsidered in developing Countries to be able to increase on the productivity nationally. However the current study is relevant in that it focuses on how agricultural extension services have enabled farmer groups improve on their agricultural productivity in the rural setting. Through the farmers needs, gender equality and participation.