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Moderated conference on rural advisory services for family farms: 1-18 December 2014

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"Moderated conference on rural advisory services for family farms: 1-18 December 2014" <[log in to unmask]>
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Wed, 3 Dec 2014 13:06:01 +0100
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My mame is Julie Nakalanda Matovu. I'm a Msc. Agroecology graduate from Uganda Martyrs University and have worked with several rural communities across Uganda and in the region. I have worked with NGOs, private farms and government. I'm an agribusiness consultant dealing in sustainable development in agricultural related business. I work in peri-urban and rural settings. 



Discussing the issue of tailoring advisory services is indeed timely. Like Jerod Myers (Message 2) mentions, we cannot overlook the aspect of local context. Cultural diversity, differences in farming systems, governance and service delivery approaches are concerns that will guide the process of tailor-made advisory services. In Uganda, we have farming families in rural communities with access to land but who cannot earn one US dollar per day. So one may wonder why? From my field observation and experience, as we work with communities, we should endeavor first to understand everything "in the equation in their context". A family that has two chickens, 50 coffee plants, 30 banana plants, 20 plants of cassava, quarter of an acre of beans, maize, etc. needs to be handled at that level. This explains a lot in terms of farming system, skills, income levels, etc. 



As advisory service providers, we tend to push our defined agendas as already predetermined by the project we work for. For instance, a program supporting such a farming family to get out of poverty may provide a grant for 50-100 exotic broilers or layer chickens, with some feed, training and drugs. Well, it may seem all well, but what happens is that such families are already overburdened with other needs such poor shelter, school fees, medical bills, clothing, etc. So, when such a project gets into the equation, it may seem okay for a while until these other needs encroach on it. Naturally, it collapses before celebrating its first birthday as a family business. 



Based on this background, my take from a local perspective in Uganda is this: We should be willing to offer systematic support as mentors, make situation analysis with these communities (say in established community based groups), allow them to acknowledge their needs and start to handle them at that very level. Improving the 3-chicken project to 10, using locally available resources, supporting them all through up to marketing level, but NOT doing it for them, like when one says: 'keep these new 100 birds, I will get you the market'. That may be good in the short term but unsustainable in the long run. So, as we design projects we should prioritize the community needs ahead of project priorities. This will contribute towards sustainable development [which truly comes at the farmer's pace NOT the usual rapid project time frame]. I have a case study to share.



Finally, regarding Message 3 from Syed Hassan Raza: Thanks Syed. I concur with your submission of emphasizing community participation. It really works perfectly well. We have to re-think development and restrain from giving lip service to such key points in community development.



Julie Nakalanda Matovu

Lead Consultant 

Juls Consults - Agribusiness & Sustainable Development

Gombe B, Bukasa Parish, 

Wakiso District, 

Uganda

+256 772-63-66-88 or +256-701-63-66-88

e-mail: Matovujuls (at) gmail.com



[To contribute to this conference, send your message to [log in to unmask] For further information, see http://www.fao.org/nr/research-extension-systems/res-home/news/detail/en/c/264776/  



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