Stakeholders
plan for Prolinnova in Uganda
From
18 – 22 August, 2003, 21 people met in Mbale, Eastern Uganda, to
plan for Prolinnova in the country. They represented stakeholders
from agriculture research, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry
and Fisheries (MAAIF), NGO’s and NGO umbrella networks, farmers
and policy makers. For a number of reasons, research was slightly
underrepresented (only Serere Agriculture and Animal Research Institute).
The workshop was officially opened by the Local Council Chairman
of the Mbale district, an opening that received TV coverage during
the National News. The workshop was later also addressed by the
Dr. John Aluma, Deputy Director General for National Agricultural
Research Organisation (NARO). Three farmer innovators joined the
discussions of the workshop and a photo display of farmers’ innovations
further enriched the discussions.
During
the first part of the workshop, participants shared experiences
in participatory agricultural development and developed a joint
understanding of how they could support and promote local innovation.
Twice participants went out and met with farmer innovators in the
field to try and learn what they are doing and how they could be
supported e.g. through Prolinnova. A simple 10 point description-assessment
tool was used to discuss and compare local innovation(s). The last
2 days, through a number of rounds of intensive group work, the
participants managed to set priorities for Prolinnova in Uganda
and developed a comprehensive set of activities for each of the
following 3 broad areas:
-
Supporting local innovation/participatory research and extension
- Exchange,
collaboration and networking
- Institutionalization
The
editing committee is now working hard to polish this up into a full-fledged
proposal, including budgets. It was agreed that resources for Prolinnova
Uganda could partly be mobilized from a number of specific Uganda
based sources and internationally, complemented by time and resources
from the partners themselves.
The
workshop participants agreed that there should be an advisory body/
steering committee for advocacy, supervision/overseeing implementation,
planning, M&E, harmonisation with national policies & upcoming
initiatives, and resource mobilisation. The present NGO-MAAIF core
team, co-opting one or two from NAADS and NARO, will be responsible
for work planning, implementation, M&E, publicity, technical
advice, fundraising, international links, networking, and communication.
Environmental Alert will continue to host the coordinating unit.
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