Increasing Farmers’ Access to Aquaculture Extension Services: Lessons from Central and Northern Uganda

This paper focuses on examining the modalities of extension service provision, and determining feasible approaches for increasing accessibility among fish farmers in Uganda. The paper draws on a cross-sectional study involving fish farming households and extension workers to determine access to extension services for improved farming practices. Quantitative data were collected from 246 households using a semi-structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were generated from Key Informant interviews with selected extension workers, officials in charge of extension planning District Fisheries Officers and Fish Farmer Group leaders. Focus Group Discussions were also conducted with fish farmers. The results indicated a significant association between socio-economic characteristics of fish farmers and access to extension services. Size of land owned, income from pond fish and membership to fish-farmer groups were the significant factors (P<0.05). All the respondents reported pressing needs which required extension intervention. The respondents expressed the need to form effective farmer groups for the purpose of sharing knowledge, arriving at mutual agreement on scheduling extension activities and providing feedback to the extension workers. Specifically for the northern region, there is a need for the Fisheries Extension Officer to identify and respond to the extension needs of fish farmers through various means including ICTs. Identifying solutions to social, technical and institutional constraints in extension can increase access to services through constructive social interactions between farmers and extension agents. The article provides important lessons for practice and policy, and proposes a farmer-centred model, capable of facilitating increased access to aquaculture extension services in Uganda.