Govt recruits 6,000 extension workers

KAMPALA - Government has recruited at least 6,000 extension workers over the last four years, out of the targeted 7,500 needed to support production in several sectors.

The extension workers are professionals deployed to support service delivery in areas including agriculture, health, fisheries or other community development work.

Local government minister, Raphael Magyezi, in a report on the ministry's performance against key targets since 2016, said recruitment of more extension workers was expected this year.

Extension workers have been a critical resource in assisting farmers to embrace best practices to improve the quality and standards of agricultural produce.

Initial estimates by the ministry of agriculture indicated that there was one extension worker for 1,800 people, with a government promise to lower the ratio to at least one for 500 people.

Uganda's agricultural extension policy aims to empower farmers and other actors (youth, women and other vulnerable groups) to participate and benefit equitably from agriculture.

Last year, Parliament approved sh50b to the ministry of agriculture to enable recruitment and facilitation of extension workers.

However, experts have previously voiced concern about the sustainability of funding for the programme as more administrative units (districts) are created.

Magyezi, in an interview with New Vision, said local governments face inadequate staffing, limited local revenue generation, low access to extension services by households, and inspection challenges due to limited resources from the centre.