Determinants of inorganic fertilizer use by small holder farmers in Uganda.

Abstract

Many studies have been carried out to determine a household’s decision to use fertilizers in Uganda, however, little attention has been paid to the determinants in the different farming systems. This study was conducted to characterize users and non-users of fertilizers, determine the profitability of fertilizer application on maize and sorghum and identify the factors motivating fertilizer use amongst farmers in smallholder farming systems. The study was conducted in Kiboga, Kabarole, Kasese and Kabale districts where the project was implemented. 70 farmers were purposively selected from the four districts to host the experiments and 140 farmers randomly selected for the survey. Value Cost Ratio (VCR) was used to determine the profitability of fertilizer use on maize and sorghum. Results showed that profitability varied according to the different fertilizer rates and the farming system. Results from the logit model (df= 127) revealed that type of seed used, amount of credit borrowed, soil fertility status of the soil and education of farmer had positive and significant relationship to fertilizer usage. Whereas knowledge and skills on the use of fertilizers and use of hired labor had negative and significant relationship to the use of fertilizers. It is recommended that measures and policies for more government involvement in agricultural extension service provision be implemented and target area specific application of inorganic fertilizers for efficient utilization and subsidization of agricultural inputs.