Kabarole NAADS chiefs demand pay rise
Jul 16, 2009
THE National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme implementers in Kabarole district want their salaries increased.
By Ronald Kalyango
THE National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme implementers in Kabarole district want their salaries increased.
Speaking during a meeting with the agriculture minister, Hope Mwesigye, at the district headquarters recently, the sub-county co-ordinators said they were controlling big budgets, but earning peanuts.
“Diploma holders who were recruited 10 years ago earn sh200,000 to sh300,000 and yet those that have just joined the service earn up to sh450,000,†said Dr. Taddeo Asiimwe, the Kicwamba sub-county coordinator.
He said they were facing a challenge of convincing farmers that they can earn sh20m annually through agriculture, yet the coordinators themselves have never earned the amount.
“It is possible to earn sh20m when proper agricultural practices are followed, but we need to be motivated to be good role models,†Asiimwe argued.
He also told the minister that they needed computers for data storage.
Karambi sub-county coordinator Fred Mabiiho said most of his colleagues dedicated time to serve the peasants, but could not meet their own needs.
The district agriculture officer, Amos Muguma, said though Kabarole was the source of bananas for most parts of the country, the ministry had not invested enough to control the banana wilt.
He said 55 lorries full of bananas leave the district for Kampala, Kasese, Kamwenge and Bundibugyo daily.
Reacting to the comments, Mwesigye said the Government had finalised plans restructure the production departments.
She blamed the sub-county coordinators for the failure of NAADS.
THE National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme implementers in Kabarole district want their salaries increased.
Speaking during a meeting with the agriculture minister, Hope Mwesigye, at the district headquarters recently, the sub-county co-ordinators said they were controlling big budgets, but earning peanuts.
“Diploma holders who were recruited 10 years ago earn sh200,000 to sh300,000 and yet those that have just joined the service earn up to sh450,000,†said Dr. Taddeo Asiimwe, the Kicwamba sub-county coordinator.
He said they were facing a challenge of convincing farmers that they can earn sh20m annually through agriculture, yet the coordinators themselves have never earned the amount.
“It is possible to earn sh20m when proper agricultural practices are followed, but we need to be motivated to be good role models,†Asiimwe argued.
He also told the minister that they needed computers for data storage.
Karambi sub-county coordinator Fred Mabiiho said most of his colleagues dedicated time to serve the peasants, but could not meet their own needs.
The district agriculture officer, Amos Muguma, said though Kabarole was the source of bananas for most parts of the country, the ministry had not invested enough to control the banana wilt.
He said 55 lorries full of bananas leave the district for Kampala, Kasese, Kamwenge and Bundibugyo daily.
Reacting to the comments, Mwesigye said the Government had finalised plans restructure the production departments.
She blamed the sub-county coordinators for the failure of NAADS.