Local Farmers decry lack of extension services

By Harriet Asingura

Farmers in the villages across the nation have decried limited access to agricultural extension services, saying it has made it difficult for them to gain knowledge on improved methods of farming.

They are accusing extension workers of failing to do their role, saying it has caused the losses amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Zaidi Mayengo, a farmer in Kasanje Town Council, said extension workers are not equiping them with the right skill set to fight poverty.

“I recently lost my cow after looking for our sub county livestock extension. Officer to help but in vain. He turned down my calls,” Kintu said.

He said the loss has resulted in food shortage since he can no longer plough his gardens.

Abbasi Kintu and his wife, both farmers from Kasanje in Wakiso District, said extension workers’ role in the community is minimal because they spend most of their time at the District Headquarters and their own business.

Farmers say they have made multiple losses in the last seven months due to proper guidance and availability of extension services, many of them failed to hit their targets citing hiccups from the pandemic that saw them cut off.

According to global figures, agricultural production suffered huge losses in sales and a drop in production across the COVID-19 lockdown period despite the fact that it is one of the few sectors that did not close.