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ItemConsumer perceptions and economic viability of black soldier fly larvae production in Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso Districts(Makerere University, 2025)The high costs of conventional protein feeds and commercial fertilizers constrain agricultural production in Uganda. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) technology offers a sustainable solution by converting waste into high-protein feed and organic fertilizer. Yet, adoption remains limited due to limited evidence on consumer perceptions, profitability, and welfare effects under local conditions. The main objective of this study was to assess the market characteristics, financial viability, and total economic benefits of BSFL production in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso districts. This study, conducted in the districts of Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono, employed a cross-sectional study design and collected quantitative data from a total of 422 respondents, including crop and livestock farmers, BSFL farmers, and BSFL firms. Respondents showed positive perceptions and moderate familiarity with BSFL products, expressing a preference for processed forms like dried larvae and liquid frass because of their ease of use and longer shelf life. The study used an open-ended contingent valuation approach to determine Willingness to Pay for BSFL products and found that respondents were willing to pay market-equivalent or higher prices for BSFL products. The NPV, BCR, and Payback period were used to determine the long-term benefits of BSFL production across different production scales and different discount rates. The small-scale production systems (<200kg/week) demonstrated the highest production efficiency, converting 93% of their weekly capacity into actual production, had the shortest payback period (1 year), a positive Net Present Value, and a high Benefit-Cost Ratio across different discount rates. Using gross margin analysis and producer surplus, the welfare effects of BSFL production were determined. The welfare effects increase substantially for smallholder out- grower farmers, UGX 14.9 million at 50% decentralization and UGX 29.9 million underscoring the profitability and resilience at the household level. Losses incurred by large- scale firms under decentralized models, UGX -2.5 million at 50% decentralization and UGX -3.5 million at 100% (full) decentralization offset these smallholder farmer gains. The overall welfare effects of BSFL production remained generally positive, UGX 12.5 million at 50% decentralization and UGX 26.4 million at 100% (full) decentralization. This study recommends that targeted awareness and clear policy guidance are critical to facilitate perceptions, sustain BSFL production, adoption, and scale-out in Uganda.
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ItemEffect of input choices and use on productivity among maize farmers in Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)Sustained improvements in maize productivity among smallholder farmers require not only access to modern inputs but also their correct use. Drawing on data from 2,243 households collected under Uganda’s World Bank-funded program, this study investigates (i) the factors influencing the adoption of different combinations of inputs (improved maize seed and inorganic fertilizer), (ii) the yield effects of these input-choice combinations; and (iii) the drivers of fertilizer misapplication and its effects on maize yield. A multinomial endogenous switching regression model showed that the likelihood of adopting only improved maize seed increased with access to credit, extension services, livestock ownership and drought experience while it decreased with larger land size. In contrast, the adoption of both improved maize seed and inorganic fertilizer was more likely among farmers with higher education levels, access to extension services, higher household incomes and larger land sizes. However, experiencing drought and having secure land tenure significantly reduced the likelihood of adopting both inputs. Access to education, engagement in farm employment, agronomic training, access to credit, market information and extension services, higher household incomes, larger land sizes and membership to a farmer organization significantly reduced the likelihood of adopting nonmodern maize inputs. However, the productivity analysis reveals that the use of modern inputs significantly improves maize yields, with the greatest gains achieved through the combined use of improved maize seed and inorganic fertilizer. Farmers who adopted both improved maize seed and inorganic fertilizer experienced a 185.5% increase in yield, with an average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) of 735 kg/ha. Those who adopted only improved maize seed or only inorganic fertilizer achieved yield gains of 138.5% (ATT = 698 kg/ha) and 137.8% (ATT = 359 kg/ha), respectively, compared to non-adopters. The effect of genetics appears to be greater than that of fertilizers, possibly due to the misapplication of fertilizers. However, with improved application practices, the impact of genetics is even likely to be greater, as the interaction between genetic traits and the environment can produce an additive effect that further enhances yield. Results from the multivariate probit model indicated that households with larger household sizes, older household heads, male household heads, access to extension services and secure land tenure were less likely to misapply fertilizer. In contrast, drought conditions, intercropping with legumes and higher household income increased the likelihood of fertilizer misapplication. Notably, land size and access to agronomic training showed mixed effects lowering the probability of certain types of misapplication while increasing others. Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA) estimation results showed that fertilizer misapplication using wrong application methods, applying below the Abuja Declaration target of 50 kg/ha and below the recommended optimal rate of 125 kg/ha led to significant yield reductions of 21%, 28% and 35%, respectively. Moreover, combined forms of misapplication further intensified yield losses. Applying fertilizer only once using a wrong method led to a 21% reduction in yield. Similarly, applying fertilizer below the optimal rate of 125 kg/ha using a wrong method reduced yield by 24%. Applying fertilizer only once and below the Abuja target also resulted in a 28% yield reduction. The greatest yield loss of 34% occurred when fertilizer was applied below the Abuja Declaration target of 50 kg/ha using wrong methods. Notably, the results indicated that applying fertilizer within the recommended midrange (50 –125 kg/ha), meeting or exceeding the Abuja target significantly increased maize yield by 16%. This suggests that the Abuja Declaration target is appropriate, as yield increases were observed both at that level and when approaching the recommended optimal rate. These findings underscore the need for policy interventions that promote comprehensive input choices to harness complementarities, develop vibrant agro-input markets and expand agro- input dealer networks, and strengthen institutions such as farmer organizations and agricultural credit systems. In addition, there is a pressing need to enhance agricultural services, including access to credit, extension and insurance, which are crucial for guiding farmers in adopting and effectively using modern inputs. Improving farmer knowledge particularly on the prudent and efficient use of fertilizers should be central to agronomic training and advisory efforts. These services are essential to ensure that inputs, especially fertilizers, are not only adopted but also applied correctly to maximize their effectiveness. Ultimately, investing in institutional support, promoting integrated input use and improving the efficiency of input application will enhance maize productivity and help close persistent yield gaps among smallholder farmers in Uganda.
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ItemEconomic assessment of adopting cattle manure management practices that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)This study focused on an economic assessment of benefits and costs associated with adopting cattle manure management strategies that mitigate GHG emissions in Uganda. It sought out to understand the factors that influence farmers’ adoption of the different strategies, the benefits and costs incurred and how adoption influences allocation of farm household resources. To achieve the study’s objectives, a cross-sectional research design using a sample of 435 cattle farming households was employed. To analyze the data, Ttests, multivariate probit, a Two stage residual inclusion model, cost benefit analysis and a multinomial endogenous switching regression model were employed. The findings reveal that farmers’ adoption of a manure management strategy that reduce GHG emission is mainly influenced by the age of the household head, household size, type of cattle kept, objective of keeping cattle, training, group membership, and involvement in off farm activities. The findings also reveal that both biogas production and manure composting are profitable to a farmer with composting requiring little investment. For biogas, labor and water contribute the biggest percentage of costs and are crucial for the success of the technology. Additionally, the results reveal that adoption of either biogas or manure composting is associated with an increase in household water usage and male hired labor hours but reduces female family labor hours worked. This study concludes that both biogas and manure composting can be adopted by farmers as they are both profitable. The study recommends that more effort in the promotion of manure composting is required since it costs less and can greatly benefit farmers who cannot afford inorganic fertilizer. Organizations promoting biogas production should bundle them with water availing and labor-saving innovations in order to guarantee the success of the technology. Lastly, organisations focused on gender could team up with organisations promoting these strategies since the results reveal that adoption of these strategies influences labor hours.
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ItemThe effect of crop post-harvest losses on household expenditure and nutrition security of smallholder farmers in Uganda.(Makerere University, 2025-12)About one-third of global food production is lost before consumption which threatens nutrition security. As the world's population continues to grow and demand for food escalates, addressing crop post-harvest losses becomes increasingly imperative. This study examines the effect of crop post-harvest losses on food consumption, non-food consumption expenditure and nutrition security among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Using a balanced panel dataset of 621 smallholder farming households collected as part of the Centre for development (ZEF) project across eight districts between June 2020 and August 2021, the research applies fixed-effects panel regression and binary probit panel regression models to analyze the effect of crop post-harvest losses on household food, non-food consumption expenditure and nutrition security. Results reveal that crop post-harvest losses significantly increase both food and non-food consumption expenditure, indicating that households divert more resources to compensate for lost produce. However, crop post-harvest losses do not affect household nutrition security. Regional disparities are evident, with Karamoja exhibiting the lowest consumption levels and Eastern showing the highest food consumption expenditure. Socioeconomic variables such as region, occupation, sex of the household head, land ownership, education of household head, and household size were found to influence household food consumption expenditure. In addition, variables like region, marital status, occupation, land ownership, access to remittances, access to credit, household size, and level of education of the household head were found to influence household non-food consumption expenditure. Finally, variables like region, occupation, land ownership, access to remittances, household size, level of education, age of the household head, and income of the household head were found to influence household nutrition security. The findings underscore that reducing crop post-harvest losses could improve household welfare by enhancing food availability, stabilizing incomes, and freeing resources for non-food needs. There is therefore a need to reduce crop post- harvest losses through improving storage facilities, strengthening extension services, and enhancing farmers’ access to credit and markets.
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ItemGenome-Wide Association Study for Earliness in Soybean (Glycine max).(Makerere University, 2025-12)Soybean (Glycine max) is a vital legume globally, valued for its high protein (~40%) and oil (~20%) content, contributing to human and livestock nutrition. Earliness traits, including days to flowering, reproductive period, and days to maturity, are crucial for adaptation and yield but are complex, and regulated by multiple genes and environmental interactions. Understanding their genetic basis is key to developing climate-resilient varieties. This study aimed to (i) evaluate phenotypic variability in early maturity traits among 308 soybean genotypes in Uganda and (ii) identify associated SNP markers using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Field trials were conducted at MUARIK, Nakabango, and Ngetta ZARDI during the 2024A season. Genotyping was performed using Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) sequencing at SEQART AFRICA, ILRI-Nairobi. Phenotypic variability was assessed using ANOVA in R, and Best Linear Unbiased Predictors (BLUPs) were derived using “lme4” package in R statistical software. GWAS was conducted using the FARMCPU model in GAPIT-R after quality control in TASSEL v5.73. Days to 50% flowering ranged from 27 to 49 days after planting (DAP), with genotypes Carsoy 79, Ux990-086B, and Ux990-017 being earliest (27 DAP), and Pan9 and NGDT 3.15-10 latest (49 DAP). The reproductive period varied from 40 to 59 days, with genotype Pan 3-1 having the shortest reproductive period (40 days) while Spike had the longest (59 days). Days to maturity ranged from 70 to 97 DAP, with Ux990-079A and Ux990-086 maturing earliest (70 DAP) and Pan 32 latest (97 DAP). GWAS identified six significant SNPs (-log[P] > 5) for flowering time (chromosomes 9, 10, 14, 18), four for reproductive period (chromosomes 1, 5, 16, 17), and nine for maturity (chromosomes 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 19). Novel loci were detected on chromosomes 1 and 16. Candidate gene annotation linked these loci to photoperiod regulation, flowering time, and hormonal signalling. A pleiotropic SNP on chromosome 9 (Ps: 1142493) influenced both flowering and maturity, highlighting shared genetic control. These findings provide key genomic insights for breeding early-maturing soybean varieties for tropical environments. Identified SNP markers can enhance marker-assisted selection, expediting breeding cycles. Further validation through multi-environment trials is recommended.