The role of community libraries in agricultural production in Uganda.

Abstract

The study investigated on’ the role of community libraries in agricultural production in Uganda'. This was suitable to the reality that improving agricultural production and optimizing human development requires more than simply raising national incomes but enabling farmers to access information that is useful and relevant to enhance this. The role that community libraries in Uganda would play in improving agricultural production had not been sufficiently recognized and so was the necessary policy developments and investment in the library network for improved agricultural production. The study consequently examined ways of how local farmers; policy makers and community educators could adopt affordable and achievable community library strategies to enhance development through increased agricultural production. The study was guided by three objectives and these were; to examine farmers’ knowledge of community libraries as a source of information for agricultural production improvement, to assess the utilization of community librariesin addressing farmers’ information needs for agricultural production improvement, and lastly to identify factors influencing farmers’ access and utilization of community libraries for agricultural production improvement. To achieve its objectives, the study adopted a cross-sectional study design where the study variables were assessed at a single time in their lives. Data were collected through questionnaires and key informant interviews administered to local farmers who were members of community library, library staff, Community Development Officers (CDOs) and National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) officials. The overall finding of the study underlined the importance of well-organized agricultural production information provision and supporting access and utilization of such information through the establishment of community libraries that support farmers’ problem and agricultural production needs. Institutionalized and genuine program towards strengthening rural education at different levels for youth and adults also required. Therefore, policy and development interventions should give emphasis to improvement of such institutional support system so as to enhance the production and productivity of agriculture and to achieve the desired poverty reduction strategy in the rural communities.