The Role of Collective Action Groups of Small-Scale Tree Growers in Mubende And Kassanda Districts, Central Uganda

Abstract

There is a global increase in commercial small-scale tree farming. However, the sector continues to experience several challenges including high transaction costs, lack of adequate market information, difficulties in accumulating the required timber supplies and limited access to finance. It has been postulated that some of these challenges can be addressed by participating in collective action groups of small-scale tree farmers. Most studies on collective action groups have focused on understanding groups that manage common pool resources. Collective action groups of small-scale tree farmers have not been widely studied. The overall objective of the study was to document the organisational structure and performance of collective action groups related to farm forestry in Mubende and Kassanda Districts in central Uganda. The specific objectives included: to characterize collective action groups of small holder tree farmers; to assess the motivational factors and benefits for participating in collective action groups of small-holder tree farmers; to assess the perceptions on performance of collective action groups of small-holder tree farmers and to assess the challenges that collective action groups of small-holder tree farmers face. The study was conducted in three sites i.e., Madudu sub-county in Mubende, Kalwana and Kassanda town council in Kassanda district. Descriptive, exploratory and interpretive research designs were applied. Data was collected using individual interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussion and document review. Content analysis was applied for data collected through key informant interviews and focus group discussion. Correspondance Analysis (CA) was also employed to determine the association between motivational factors and benefits derived with the groups. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulations were employed to compare perceptions on performance across the collective action groups. Multiple Correspondence Analysis was used to determine the association between challenges faced across the studied collective action groups. There were fewer women participating in the collective action groups. All the groups were relatively small and involved in multiple activities. They all had rules that governed their operations and engagements. Motivational factors for joining collective action groups were direct and indirect incentives. Collective form of decision making and rules setting and transparency in decision-making were key performance indicators that group members prioritized. The groups had challenges linked to price fluctuation, exploitation by brokers and low prices for their products. There is need to address the external factors such as road infrastructure to enable collective action groups of small-scale tree farmers to successfully benefit from collection action