Assessment of the effectiveness of community agricultural infrastructure programme in Uganda. A case study of Butaleja District

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the effectiveness of Community Agricultural Infrastructure Programme (CAIIP) in Uganda, the case of Butaleja District. The objective were; to establish the extent to which CAIIP has enhanced market access; to determine how CAIIP has influenced price competiveness of agricultural products; and to ascertain the extent to which the marketing of produce has been improved by the marketing infrastructure developed after CAIIP intervention in Butaleja District. A cross-sectional survey design that is descriptive in nature was used in this study. The study population was comprised of Local Politicians, Technocrats, Area residents, and Opinion leaders. The sample size for this study as determined using Krejacic & Morgan 1970 was 384 of which 35 were Local Politicians, 22 were Technocrats, 302 were Area residents and 25 Opinion leaders. The research mainly employed two sampling techniques namely; random and purposive sampling. Random sampling was used for selection of Local Politicians, Area residents, Opinion leaders, while purposive sampling was used for selection of Technocrats. Data was collected using questionnaire, interview guide and document review. Quantitative data gathered was analyzed using SPSS computer software to obtain general description of the data through frequency. Findings revealed that implementation of CAIIP in Uganda and Butaleja district in particular resulted into enhanced market access, price competiveness of agricultural products and improved marketing of produce. The study recommends that government puts in place a policy and institutional arrangements to enable farmers‘ access markets, monitor price competitiveness, and use markets and agro-processing facilities to create jobs. In conclusion, CAIIP was effectiveness in Uganda and Butaleja district in particular basing on existing road network which have enhanced markets access evidenced by increased number of farmers who sell their produce in the markets, reduced transport costs and travel time, high crop production, competitive market and commodity prices, reduced post-harvest resulting from Market structures and agro-processing facilities which have revitalize and transformed the livelihood of rural communities.