Economic feasibility of ware potato storage technologies in Eastern and Southwestern Districts of Uganda

Abstract

Seasonal fluctuation in food supply is a key cause of price instability, especially where post-harvest handling of agricultural produce is poor. Practices which extend the shelf life of crops and reduce incidences of flooding markets with produce during bumper harvests, can contribute to stability of prices. Smallholder potato farmers in Uganda are highly affected by these seasonal fluctuations and resulting price instability. To promote good post-harvest practices for potatoes in Uganda, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and International Potato Center (CIP) have piloted improved ambient ware potato storage technologies in Southwestern and Eastern Uganda. This study sought to assess the economic feasibility of ware potato storage technologies in Uganda. The specific objectives of this study were to explore potato storage practices used by potato farmers and traders in Eastern and Southwestern Uganda, to determine factors influencing the choice of storage technologies by potato farmers in Eastern and Southwestern Uganda and to carry out a comparative viability analysis of traditional and improved ware potato storage technologies. The study was done in key potato producing and trading districts including Kisoro, Kanungu and Rubanda in Southwestern Uganda, Mbale, Kapchorwa and Kween in Eastern Uganda and Kampala in Central Uganda. Data were collected from 240 potato farmers and 125 potato traders using pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, viability analysis and the multinomial probit regression model. Results indicated that most farmers and traders in Kampala did not store ware potato for sale mainly because of immediate cash needs. However, for those traders who store, ware potato volumes stored were very low compared to the volumes purchased. Results for factors influencing choice of storage technologies are mixed, and extent and direction of influence vary with technology: The predominant factors that positively influenced choice of technologies include access to potato storage management advice, access to credit and distance to the nearest potato market. Results also showed that the improved individual ambient stores managed by farmers were highly profitable with a benefit cost ratio (BCR) greater than one, positive return on investment and furthermore, to breakeven, the average total volume of potato sold after storage is 4,877 kgs. This study recommends better access to quality seed, extension services and credit as measures to improve ware potato storage. Besides, scaling up the use of improved individual ambient ware potato stores would be important because it could increase smallholder farmers’ income