Agricultural Research and Extension Network (ARENET)
Is a web portal created to strengthen the links between the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program and its related extension service providers.
The National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) is collaborating with the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) in piloting a system for sharing information and knowledge between the research and extension systems .
ARENET is dedicated to helping anyone involved in improving rural farming to readily access practical, technical and relevant agricultural information from various national and international sources and to ensure that service providers, rural development workers and extension agents can help the farmers in their areas by posting their questions and problems through the system to the different agricultural experts at the research institutes and the local governments in order to solve some of their farming problems. ARENET offers opportunities for the farming communities, researchers, extension agents and the private sector to communicate among themselves and to share their information knowledge and experiences.
The site is explored in English with a potential to include other local languages in the future. The ARENET concept is being piloted at three sites in Uganda were links have been established between the NARO and NAADS affiliates at some districts of Mbarara, Lira, and Hoima and at community level through some key NGOs in these areas that work directly with farmers at three agro-ecological zones covered by the Bulindi Zonal Agricultural Research and development Institute, Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and development Institute, and Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and development Institute.
Who can participate in ARENET?
ARENET is open for groups or organisations who wish to join the network and to freely share their resources. The users of the ARENET portal are expected to be individuals, groups, development partners or institutions in the government and private sectors that need agricultural information and knowledge to improve farming.
