Academic submissions (CAES)Submissions of scholarly material and theses/dissertationshttp://hdl.handle.net/10570/40812024-03-29T05:38:47Z2024-03-29T05:38:47ZAdoption of drought tolerant maize varieties among smallholder maize farmers in Kamuli and Masindi DistrictsKakuru, Josephhttp://hdl.handle.net/10570/72232019-02-26T09:37:22Z2019-01-01T00:00:00ZAdoption of drought tolerant maize varieties among smallholder maize farmers in Kamuli and Masindi Districts
Kakuru, Joseph
Drought tolerant maize varieties (DTMs) are a great contributing factor in addressing the challenge of low maize yields for most rural households who continue to suffer prolonged drought periods as a result of climate change. The overall aim of this study was to assess the status of adoption of drought tolerant maize varieties (DTMs) by smallholder farmers in Masindi and Kamuli districts. Using survey data from 190 farm households, the study sought to characterise smallholder maize farmers in the two districts, assess Drought Tolerant maize attributes preferred by smallholder maize farmers, determine the rate of adoption and factors that influence the adoption of drought tolerant maize varieties in Masindi and Kamuli districts. The results indicated that adopters and non-adopters of drought tolerant maize (DTM) varieties significantly differed in terms of marital status, main occupation, access to credit, self-sufficiency in maize production, age, income, years of schooling, land owned, area under maize, experience in maize production and quantity of maize produced. Results also showed that limitations such as high prices, limited awareness, fertilizer requirement, limited access to seed and susceptibility to pests and diseases were responsible for poor adoption of DTMs. In addition, the most highly ranked DTM variety attributes by farmers was grain yield (66.3%). Other attributes that were preferred by farmers included; drought tolerance (18.9%), early maturity (13.7%), grain-flour ratio (9.5%), pests and diseases resistance (5.3%), tolerance to poor soils (1.1%) and lodging resistance (0.5%). The key factors influencing adoption of DTM were; awareness of drought tolerant maize varieties, experience in maize farming, level of formal education, distance to the source of seed, occurrence of drought and the price per kilogram of maize seed. It is thus recommended that more emphasis be put on extension and farmer trainings to increase awareness of the available DTMs. In addition to this, government programmes involved in provision of maize seed to farmers, such as Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and other development partners should consider procurement of DTMs for supply to drought prone areas. Drought tolerant maize breeding programmes should try to incorporate early maturity, high yielding, weight, bigger grain, more cobs per plant since they were highly ranked by smallholder.
A thesis submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Agribusiness Management of Makerere University.
2019-01-01T00:00:00ZAdoption of On-Farm Plantation Forestry by Smallholder Farmers in UgandaKiyingi, I.Edriss, A.Buyinza, MukadasiAgaba, H.http://hdl.handle.net/10570/57792017-11-12T22:12:37ZAdoption of On-Farm Plantation Forestry by Smallholder Farmers in Uganda
Kiyingi, I.; Edriss, A.; Buyinza, Mukadasi; Agaba, H.
Analysis of Gender differences in Smallholder Farmers’ Use of Information Sources to cope with Drought in Masindi District, UgandaMayindi, Zirintusa Andrewhttp://hdl.handle.net/10570/83142021-04-10T09:40:12Z2021-01-01T00:00:00ZAnalysis of Gender differences in Smallholder Farmers’ Use of Information Sources to cope with Drought in Masindi District, Uganda
Mayindi, Zirintusa Andrew
While socio-economic and institutional determinants of use of information sources have been
widely studied in various contexts, the gender dimension of information use, and in relation to
coping with the adverse effects of climate change has not been dealt with satisfactorily. A study
was therefore conducted to: - (i) determine the sources of information used among smallholder
farmers to cope with drought; (ii) characterize these sources of information and (iii) identify the
socio-economic and institutional factors influencing farmers’ use of information sources to cope
with drought. Using mixed methods combining a cross sectional survey and focus group
discussions, data was collected from 313 smallholder farmers (167 men and 146 women). Results
show that, fellow farmers mainly men were an important source of information for both men and
women farmers to cope with drought. Farmers’ organizations were an important source of
information among the women, while government extension services were an important source for
the men for information to cope with drought. Overall, both men and women farmers perceived
fellow farmers who were sources of information to be very good at communicating, convincing
others, willing to share information, having appropriate information for both men and women, and
bringing information from various sources. Women however had a significantly higher positive
disposition compared to men. In regards to fellow farmers’ farming experience, while both men
and women perceived them as highly experienced and exemplary, men had a small but
significantly higher regard of this compared to the women. Both men and women farmers
characterized fellow farmers as providers of information that was useful, timely, affordable,
accurate, relevant and problem solving. A significant difference existed around women farmers’
perception of fellow farmers’ information as affordable and relevant more compared to the men.
With regard to information obtained from extension agencies, both men and women perceived it
as useful, timely, affordable, accurate, relevant and problem solving. However, women’s
perceptions of the relevance of this information were significantly and positively higher compared
to men. In determining why farmers’ used fellow farmers as sources of information to cope with
drought, the significant explanatory factors included; not being a member of a farmers’ group (β
= −2.57, p < 0.01), farmers perceiving a fellow farmer as a good communicator (β = 3.049, p <
0.01), as having access to many extension agencies (β = .9912, p < 0.009), as a user of agro technologies (β = ̶1.54, p < 0.01); as not so educated (β= ̶0.861, p < 0.01) and contacting a farmer
of the opposite sex (β = ̶1.176, p < 0.01). The factors that explained farmers’ use of extension
workers for information to cope with drought included having access to radio (β = 1.214, p < 0.01),
to transport (β = 2.668, p < 0.01), membership to a farmer group (β = 2.54, p < 0.01) 989 and
having access to mobile phones (β = .665, p < 0.1). In conclusion, both fellow farmers and
extension agencies were important sources of information to cope with drought to both men and
women farmers. More women need support in maximizing these sources compared to the men.
There is need to build the capacity of fellow farmers to guarantee easy access to relevant
information especially for women. Extension services need to continually retool their staff to reach
men and women farmers more objectively and equitably. Enhancing women’s access to extension
services such as owning a radio, a mobile phone and being mobile is key for climate smart farming.
A dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Master of Science in Agricultural Extension and Education of Makerere University
2021-01-01T00:00:00ZAnalysis of Tamarindus (Tamarindus Indica L.) Value Chain in Uganda: Identification of Opportunities and Constraints to Its Commercialization and DomesticationLakor, J.Elepu, G.Buyinza, M. J.Nyeko, P.http://hdl.handle.net/10570/57802017-11-12T22:12:51ZAnalysis of Tamarindus (Tamarindus Indica L.) Value Chain in Uganda: Identification of Opportunities and Constraints to Its Commercialization and Domestication
Lakor, J.; Elepu, G.; Buyinza, M. J.; Nyeko, P.