Working in ‘silos’ has been cited as a barrier to the effective delivery of agricultural extension and advisory services. At the 2026 Uganda National Extension Week, the keynote address by Dr. Sadiq Kassim, Deputy Director General for Technology Promotion at NARO and representing the Director General, Dr. Yona Baguma, highlighted the critical role of collaboration between agricultural research and extension systems.
Speaking on the theme of building resilient, digital, and market-oriented agri-food systems, he emphasized that research alone is not enough unless its outputs effectively reach and benefit farmers.
Drawing from his personal journey – from a youth supported through extension services to his current leadership role at NARO, Dr. Kasim illustrated the transformative power of strong extension systems. He presented clear evidence of Uganda’s research advancements, including high-yielding, stress-tolerant crop and livestock technologies.
However, he noted a persistent gap between research outputs and farmer adoption, where improved varieties and technologies are not yet fully reaching farming communities.
He identified key gaps that require urgent attention: the weak link between research and extension, limited feedback from farmers to research and markets, and the gap between knowledge generation and practical application. He stressed that extension services are the essential bridge connecting scientific innovation to real-world agricultural transformation.
“Research alone cannot transform the farm. Extension is the bridge that enables farmers to access what research has generated.” he said.
Dr. Kassim strongly emphasized the importance of partnerships, particularly the new collaboration between NARO and the Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (UFAAS). He said this was a pathway to ensure that agricultural technologies move beyond research institutions and are effectively delivered to farmers through coordinated extension systems.
He concluded by underscoring five pillars of professionalism for extension workers: competence, reliability, accountability, respect for farmers, and ethical conduct grounded in certification standards.
“It is not technology alone, it is not advisory services alone, but the intersection of the two that can transform the [agricultural] sector” concluded Dr. Kassim.
Compiled by Elizabeth Asiimwe.
For more information, contact Beatrice Luzobe, UFAAS Chief Executive Officer
Email: ufaas2013@gmail.com