Towards a new role of agricultural extension in nutrition education: Evidence from western Uganda

Extension and advisory services had their main role as training, communication and dissemination of technical information, improved technologies and practices. However, there is increasingly a realization that extension has to take on new roles suited to the evolving development and innovation system. Current national demands and goals define this. In many countries including Uganda, these are increasingly going beyond the traditional focus on food security and income to include improved nutrition and rural livelihoods, farmer empowerment, and sustainable natural resource management. The objective of the study was to determine the role of the extension workers in nutrition education. Data were collected from nutrition experts and extension workers and 82 farmers from Kihihi, Nyamirama, Rugyeyo and Kirima sub-county under two nutrition sensitive extension organizations; Africa 2000 Network (A2N) and Community Connector (CC) in Kanungu district in southwestern Uganda. Qualitative data were collected from eight focus group discussions (FGDs) with farmers. Two FGDs with extension workers and one with nutrition experts were conducted using a modified Delphi-technique. From the study, all respondent categories agreed that extension workers are key in carrying out nutrition education because they link farmers to other partners. Three themes were revealed on their role and they include; 1) the traditional role of training, communication, dissemination of information and technologies is still pertinent. However, the message and approach should change by embracing a nutrition focus; 2) the new role of promoting cultural and social transformation and, 3) promoting intra-household decision making that promotes household nutrition security. Therefore the central government, private partners, research organizations and Universities need to work hand in hand with the extension workers and give them all necessary support to develop their capacity so that they can effectively reach out to the farmers to build their capacity in nutrition matters.