Smallholder Farmers In Uganda Research Articles

The Moderating Role of Farming Systems in Market Participation and Value Creation for Medium and Smallholder Farmers in Rural Uganda

The study investigated the moderating role of farming systems in the association between market participation and value creation, targeting medium and smallholder farmers in Uganda, particularly in two districts in northern Uganda, Nwoya and Amuru. A sample size of 385 respondents consisting of medium and smallholder farmers involved in farm operations was calculated. The surveyed participants were selected using simple random sampling, while key informants were selected with a purposive sampling technique. Quantitative data obtained were coded and entered into SPSS version 25.0 statistical package computer software. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine factor loading for the items examined. SPSS PROCESS MACRO v4.2 by Andrew F. Hayes was used to assess the moderation effect. There is a significant strong positive association of market participation and farming system with value creation (r = .861**, p < .01) and (r = .753**, p < .01), respectively. Secondly, market participation and the farming system significantly affect value creation (p<.05), and thirdly, the farming system moderated the effect of market participation on value creation. Policies and programs focusing on improving market access and market information dissemination should be implemented to benefit farmers significantly. Initiatives that promote sustainable and innovative agricultural practices should be encouraged to enhance value creation. A comprehensive approach that combines market participation and a farming system should be implemented to improve value creation. Enhancing farming systems by improving infrastructure, providing necessary support, and aligning farming practices with market demands can significantly impact the value of smallholder farmers' capabilities.

Determinants of knowledge, attitude and perception towards cage fish farming technologies among smallholder farmers in Uganda

Determinants of knowledge, attitude and perception towards cage fish farming technologies among smallholder farmers in Uganda

Local Context Capacity Building Needs for Climate Change Adaptation among Smallholder Farmers in Uganda: Policy and Practice Implications

Climate change impacts threaten sustainable development efforts. The magnitude of the impacts, however, varies with the socio-ecological characteristics of locations. This is the reason there is consensus on the necessity for climate change adaptive capacity building that is country driven, and based on, and responsive to, local needs. However, information on context specific capacity building needs in developing countries is not readily available. The objective of this study was to establish location specific awareness, training, educational research and technology capacity building needs for climate change adaptation among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Semi-structured questionnaires were used with 465 households from five agro-ecological zones, selected based on the level of vulnerability of agricultural systems to the main climate variation and change hazards. Results reveal substantial capacity building needs in all the zones. The majority of the farmers needed capacity building for interventions on soil-water conservation practices for adapting to drought and unpredictable rainfall. For all zones, education, research, and technology were perceived as key needs. However, the needs varied among zones. These results demonstrate the importance of context specificity in adaptation efforts. The study provides agro-ecological and social system specific information for climate change adaptation planning and policy interventions for effective capacity building.

Optimizing postharvest management of bananas in Uganda: a resilience and engineering-based approach

This study delves into the intricacies of postharvest management in banana production in Uganda, aiming to uncover insights that can enhance resilience and capitalize on opportunities for the sustained growth of banana cultivation. The examination spans the entire postharvest process, encompassing harvesting, handling, transportation, and storage up to the market stage. By identifying the primary causes of postharvest losses and understanding the associated challenges, this research outlines best practices to pave the way for a more robust banana production system, benefiting farmers and contributing to broader agricultural sustainability goals. The investigation explores the core issues affecting millions of lives and endeavors to catalyze transformative change by adapting to challenges and leveraging innovative engineering opportunities. The overarching objective is to ensure food security and elevate the economic well-being of smallholder farmers in Uganda. Recommendations emanating from this research are directed at stakeholders, urging them to scrutinize and reevaluate policies and regulations of banana postharvest management. The intention is to foster an enabling environment conducive to innovation, sustainability, and equitable development in the banana production sector.

The Sustainability of Carbon Markets for Climate-Smart Agriculture among Smallholder Farmers in Uganda

This study assesses the sustainability of Uganda's carbon markets in the context of climate-smart agricultural practices with the aim of aligning them with sustainable development goals. The research emphasizes integrating dimensions of sustainable development to proactively address food security and climate issues. Climate-smart agricultural practices that support the efficiency of small-scale farming enable farmers to generate income through the sale of carbon-related environmental services such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. While these practices contribute to the resilience of smallholder farmers' livelihoods, challenges arise from large project volumes with low transaction costs, resulting in insufficient carbon revenues for local communities. Furthermore, limited methods and complex procedures hinder progress. The study recommends involving national or international organizations to bridge the gap between farmer groups and the carbon market, with a focus on government policy and private sector collaboration to incentivize environmental services. In summary, establishing sustainable, climate-smart agricultural links to the carbon market can bring co-benefits including income diversification, poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation.

Is this land for sale? The effects of drought on land ownership in Uganda

This study examines the impact of drought on the land ownership rights of smallholder farmers in Uganda. Three waves of the Uganda National Panel Survey are combined with an indicator for drought, the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index. Using a household fixed effects approach, we exploit spatial and temporal variation in drought conditions to identify its effect on households’ self-reported willingness to acquire land ownership rights, both at the extensive and intensive margins. Results show that exposure to drought lowers households’ intentions to purchase land and substantially reduces the price households are willing to pay for land. The effects persist over time and are robust to different specifications. Our findings suggest that drought exposure limits the operating space for farmers wishing to purchase land.

Self-reported and urinary biomarker-based measures of exposure to glyphosate and mancozeb and sleep problems among smallholder farmers in Uganda

ObjectiveWe aim to showcase the impact of applying eight different self-reported and urinary biomarker-based exposure measures for glyphosate and mancozeb on the association with sleep problems in a study among 253 smallholder farmers in Uganda. MethodsThe questionnaire-based exposure measures included: (1) the number of application days of any pesticide in the last 7 days (never, 1–2; >2 days) and six glyphosate and mancozeb-specific measures: (2) application status over the last 12 months (yes/no), (3) recent application status (never, last 7 days and last 12 months), (4) the number of application days last 12 months, (5) average exposure-intensity scores (EIS) and (6) EIS-weighted number of application days in last 12 months. Based on 384 repeated urinary biomarker concentrations of ethylene thiourea (ETU) and glyphosate from 84 farmers, we also estimated (7) average biomarker concentrations for all 253 farmers. Also in the 84 farmers the measured pre-work and post-work biomarker concentrations were used (8). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between the exposure measures and selected Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOS-SS) indices (6-item, sleep inadequacy and snoring). ResultsWe observed positive associations between (1) any pesticide application in the last 7 days with all three MOS-SS indices. Glyphosate application in the last 7 days (3) and mancozeb application in the last 12 months (3) were associated with the 6-item sleep problem index. The estimated average urinary glyphosate concentrations showed an exposure–response association with the 6-item sleep problem index and sleep inadequacy in the same direction as based on self-reported glyphosate application in the last 7 days. In the analysis with the subset of 84 farmers, both measured and modelled post-work urinary glyphosate concentration showed an association with snoring. ConclusionsSelf-reported, estimated average biomarker concentrations and measured urinary biomarker exposure measures of glyphosate and mancozeb showed similar exposure–response associations with sleep outcomes.

Application of a Bayesian network modelling approach to predict the cascading effects of COVID-19 restrictions on the planting activities of smallholder farmers in Uganda

CONTEXTThere are rising concerns over the cascading effects induced by COVID-19 restrictions on the planting activities of smallholder farmers in low and middle-income countries, which may become a non-negligible threat to the long-term food security. Studies that utilize probability based models to examine the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on planting activities of smallholder farmers are scare, with no available evidence on Uganda. Yet these effects do not act in isolation, and are known to be complex, stochastic, nonlinear, and multidimensional. OBJECTIVETo develop a Bayesian network (BN) model based on expert knowledge, existing literature, and Uganda's High Frequency Phone Survey (HFPS) datasets on COVID-19 to bridge this gap. METHODSA comprehensive survey of relevant literature on the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on the planting activities of smallholder farmers was conducted based on well established guidelines. Resultantly, 23 relevant publications were obtained, and reviewed. A total of 12 variables deemed relevant to smallholder famers in Uganda were extracted, and organized into an influence diagram. The influence diagram was used to develop the BN model. A total 6313 households aggregated from Round 1, 4 and 7 of the HFPS datasets on COVID-19 was used in this study. A training portion (75%, n = 4734) was used to populate the model, and test dataset (25%, n = 1578), was used evaluate model accuracy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe error rate was 17.9%% implying that the model had the majority of its predictions correct (82.1%). The model's classification power, was evaluated basing on the scoring rules. The model's scoring rule results indicated that the model has a strongest predictive power with both the logarithmic loss (0.45,) and quadratic loss (0.29) scores close to zero, while a spherical payoff (0.84) approaching 1. Results reveal the maize, beans, and ground nuts, were the most grown crops during the pandemic as compared to the period before the pandemic. The sensitivity results indicate that the probability of COVID-19 restrictions to affect the planting activities of the smallholder farmers in Uganda was 30%. The variables of ‘unable to acquire seeds, and fertilizers’ affected the planting activities by 2.6 percentage points (PP), and 1.3 PP respectively. The variables ‘travel restrictions’ and reduced labour, affected the planting activities by 11 PP and 1PP respectively. SIGNIFICANCEThese findings emphasize the importance of intervening on the highly ranked effects to enhance the resilience of local food systems, and smallholders' capacity to cope with recurring and unforeseen shocks.

Entering the Digital Research Age: Investigating the Effectiveness of Visual Digital Tools in Agricultural Research

Agricultural studies mainly rely on quantitative research approaches. Despite growing interest in and uptake of qualitative, participatory, and visual methods due to their perceived advantages in gathering in-depth information and empowering participants, visual–digital research methods have yet to be largely applied. In our study on adaptation strategies to climate change among smallholder farmers in Uganda we compared different data collection methods, including: semi-structured interviews with manual note-taking, participatory impact diagrams, and adapted photovoice and cellphilm methodologies.

A farmer-friendly tool for estimation of weights of pigs kept by smallholder farmers in Uganda

Pig keeping is important to the livelihoods of many rural Ugandans. Pigs are typically sold based on live weight or a carcass weight derived from this; however this weight is commonly estimated due to the lack of access to scales. Here, we explore the development of a weigh band for more accurate weight determination and potentially increased farmer bargaining power on sale price. Pig weights and varied body measurements (heart girth, height, and length) were collected on 764 pigs of different ages, sex, and breed types, from 157 smallholder pig keeping households in Central and Western Uganda. Mixed-effects linear regression analyses, with household as a random effect and the varied body measurements as a fixed effect, were performed to determine the best single predictor for cube root of weight (transformation of weight for normality), for 749 pigs ranging between 0 and 125 kg. The most predictive single body measurement was heart girth, where weight in kg = (0.4011 + heart girth in cm × 0.0381)3. This model was found to be most suitable for pigs between 5 and 110 kg, notably more accurate than farmers’ estimates, but still with somewhat broad confidence intervals (for example, ±11.5 kg for pigs with a predicted weight of 51.3 kg). We intend to pilot test a weigh band based on this model before deciding on whether it is suitable for wider scaling.

Smallholder Farmers’ Coping Strategies to Perceived Climate Change and Variability in Isingiro District, South Western Uganda

Climate change and variability pose a major challenge facing the agricultural sector around the world and trends are feared to intensify by 2050. This is likely to complicate agricultural decisions affecting local communities who depend on the sector for their livelihood. Seasonal changes in weather patterns are projected to reduce food production due to the reduction in average yields of common food crops. With the majority of smallholder farmers in Uganda depending on agriculture for survival, building their adaptive capacity to climate change is vital to ensure household food and income security. This study aimed at establishing the smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change and their initiatives to cope with and manage the associated risks. A sample of 126 farming households were randomly selected from three Sub counties in Isingiro District and studied using field observations and questionnaires. Key informant interviews were also conducted with three extension workers. The collected data was analysed using Stata 14 and Excel. The findings revealed that there was increasing awareness of the climate change and variability challenge among smallholder farmers with the increasing need to take on adaptation strategies. The results showed that the major perceived changes were, increased intensity and frequency of droughts (98%), increase in daytime temperatures (92.7%), decrease in rainfall intensity (92.1%) and changes in rainfall distribution patterns (90%). It also showed that different initiatives had been taken by farmers to cope with the changes like changing planting dates (92.1%), growing crop variety mixtures (73.8%) and practising soil and water conservation (62.7%). Based on the findings of this study, smallholder farmers greatly perceived climate change and variability with negative impacts imposed on their farming operations. Although farmers have tried to adapt, there is still a need to support their coping strategies through appropriate policies. This will facilitate increased adoption of adaptation measures, thereby reducing the negative consequences of climate change in future

The sensitivity of food security to agricultural input subsidies in Uganda

The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition in developing countries, and smallholder farmers are significant contributors to food production. In Uganda, the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program was initiated in 2001 to provide extension services and agricultural input subsidies to farmers. However, the program has faced criticism for its high levels of corruption, militarization, and political influence, as well as for its failure to reach its intended beneficiaries, and smallholder farmers. This paper aims to examine the contribution of smallholder farmers to food security and its sensitivity to agricultural input subsidies in Uganda, with a focus on the NAADS program. Additionally, it covers the evolution of agricultural input subsidy policy in Uganda from 1987 to the present and analyses the findings on the impact of these subsidies on smallholder farmer productivity and food security. The findings conclude that the NAADS program contributes less to the target beneficiaries, and its priorities do not align with the set goals. The study further suggests several recommendations for improving the program and addressing the issues facing smallholder farmers in Uganda.

Determinants of uptake of biofortified crop varieties by smallholder farmers in Uganda

Hunger and malnutrition can be said to be one of the important global problems that have recently been exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation. Meanwhile, an estimated two billion people suffer from micronutrient malnutrition, mostly due to low intake of vitamins and minerals such as iron and zinc. Biofortification, an agricultural technology that can increase the micronutrient content of staples, may confer large benefits to rural families and poor children with limited access to expensive high-quality foods. Possible pathways include own-consumption when directly consumed, the income pathway when they are sold and/or the food price pathway when they increase the availability of micronutrient-rich foods in the market place. This research aims to understand the factors associated with the uptake of biofortified crop varieties (BCV) among smallholder farmers in Uganda and derive policy information to support their accelerated uptake. The analysis used two waves of panel data consisting of 6,400 observations collected from 6 districts in Uganda as part of the Feed the Future (FtF) innovation laboratory for nutrition. Descriptive analysis was used to help discern the differences between adopters and non-adopters of BCV. Double hurdle regression analysis was used to understand the factors associated with adoption and the intensity of adoption of biofortified crop varieties. Descriptive results reveal significant differences between adopters and non-adopters of BCV. Double hurdle regression analysis results indicate that the primary determinants of uptake of biofortified crop varieties include geographical location, extension staff visits, household size, and mobile phone ownership. Other important factors associated with the adoption of BCV include the amount of land owned by the household. Results suggest that extension staff visits, and mobile phone ownership were important sources of information for rural households that appear to drive the decision to adopt biofortified crop varieties. Meanwhile, household size, regional location of the household and total land owned were important motivators in adopting BCV technology. From the present analysis, it was not possible to clearly discern the key drivers of the intensity of adoption of biofortified crop varieties among smallholder households in Uganda. Key words: Biofortification, smallholder farmers, quasi experimental design, double-hurdle regression, Uganda

Information Communication Technology Devices for Agricultural Information Dissemination among Smallholder Farmers in Uganda (Rubanda, Mayuge Districts, and Mbarara City)

Agriculture continues to be the main source of livelihood in developing countries and smallholder farming is the most common type of agriculture practice supporting more than 70% of the population. On the other hand, information and communication technology (ICT) is quickly growing as its helping to connect easier and faster; thus, a dire need to harness it in promoting the agricultural sector. This study investigated the Information Communication Technology Devices for Agricultural Information Dissemination among Smallholder Farmers in Uganda (Rubanda, Mayuge Districts, And Mbarara City). The study adopted a cross-sectional research design that comprised a mixed methods approach of quantitative and qualitative. The instrument for this study consisted of structured questionnaires and interviews. More so, available reports and records were explored. The questionnaire was subjected to face and content validity and reliability test. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages. Findings show that the leading types of ICT devices for agricultural information dissemination in Rubanda District, Mayuge District, and Mbarara City were mobile phones and radios. The study recommends that the most important information to farmers should always be disseminated via phone conversation, texting, and radio for broadcast agricultural-related programs in respective local languages

Decomposition and nutrient release patterns of municipal solid waste compost in two agro-ecological zones of Uganda

BackgroundDeteriorating soil fertility is a major constraint to agricultural production and food security among smallholder farmers in Uganda and throughout sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of the population relies on subsistence farming for its livelihoods.Unfortunately, inorganic fertiliser used as a significant soil nutrient replenishment is unsustainable, causing adverse environmental effects, including soil acidification and pollution of water bodies. Therefore, finding alternative, more sustainable, low-cost nutrient management systems is vital. This study assessed the decomposition and nutrient release patterns of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) in a 36 weeks litter bag experiment under field conditions in two agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Uganda.ResultsWe found a higher rate of decomposition in the South-western Grass Farmlands (SGF) agro-ecological zone (0.041 week−1, with 20% of initial compost mass remaining after 36 weeks of decay) compared to Southern and Eastern Lake Kyoga Basin (SEKB) (0.043 week−1, 32% of initial litter mass remaining). The half-life values were 16 and 17 weeks for SGF and SEKB AEZs, respectively. The nutrient release rates differed between the two study sites. The macronutrient release pattern in both sites followed the order K > P > N. The secondary macronutrients release followed the order Ca > Mg in the SGF, while in SEKB, the order was reversed. The micronutrients followed the order Cu > Mn > Fe > Zn and Cu > Mn > Zn > Fe in SGF and SEKB AEZs, respectively. The MSWC mass loss during decomposition was negatively correlated with rainfall in both AEZs and with temperature in SGF AEZ, while it was positively correlated with temperature in SEKB AEZ. However, the relationship with nutrient release rates was inconsistent in both AEZs.ConclusionsOur results showed consistent release of nutrients in all AEZs throughout the study period, which coincides with the two cropping seasons in Uganda, suggesting that smallholder farmers can use MSWC as a soil amendment to address soil fertility decline and improve crop productivity. However, because most nutrients were released almost right away in both AEZs, planting should be done at the beginning of high rainfall months when soil moisture is high to synchronise nutrient release from MSWC with crop demand and maximise nutrient uptake by crops while minimising losses to the environment. Furthermore, the inconsistent relationships between the climatic variables and nutrient release suggest that other factors, such as site-specific microbial composition, influenced MSWC nutrient release. Therefore, long-term research is needed to examine other factors affecting nutrient release in these AEZs.

Assessing the contribution of the Adhoc crop health surveillance tool on the food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Uganda

AbstractOne of the perennial causes of food insecurity in Sub‐Saharan African countries is crop pests and diseases that affect agricultural production. To address this concern in Uganda, a mobile phone crowdsourcing Adhoc surveillance tool, Adsurv, was deployed and used by smallholder farmers. Adsurv is a crop health surveillance and monitoring mobile application that facilitates diagnosing and managing crop pests and diseases. Existing literature has examined the impacts of mobile technologies on food security or livelihoods in isolation, but has not conducted a holistic assessment of both. This study on the other hand aimed at assessing the contribution Adsurv made towards improved food security and livelihood assets of the smallholder farmers, which were not fully understood. The study contributes to applying the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) as theory in evaluating Mobile for Development (M4D) initiatives. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was further adopted to facilitate the development of a hierarchical assessment model of the multidimensional food security and livelihood aspects using data collected from 56 out of the targeted 70 participants. Results show that Adsurv mainly contributed towards food availability rather than utilization or access. These gains mostly enhanced the human assets of the smallholder farmers, empowering them with skills that positively impacted all other assets to support the attainment of sustainable livelihoods. The implication of these results in both research and practice is the need for further research trials, which will motivate farmers to recognize the importance of the nutritional value of food in their agronomic practices.

Modest Ag-Extension and Access to Seeds of Aromatic Rice Can Boost Returns of Smallholder Farmers in Uganda, A Case Study

Limited farmer access to quality seeds of improved varieties and knowledge gaps in good agronomic practices are the major factors limiting rice productivity among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Promoting high yielding aromatic rice varieties alongside good agronomic practices can unlock commercial opportunities for smallholder farmers in rice cultivation, given that 80% of rice consumers in Uganda prefer aromatic rice, which is in short supply. This case study highlights a project’s achievements to accelerate the adoption of improved aromatic rice varieties among smallholder farmers in Uganda. This project supported a few selected farmers with the seed of a new aromatic rice variety, NARORICE-1, and equipped them with agronomic skills to raise their yields from an average of 3.1 to 4.1 t/ha. Line transplanting was identified as a crucial technology to increase rice yields among smallholders. Costly and inaccessible crop-enhancing inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, and an unfair distribution of irrigation water were the two main obstacles farmers face in rice production. Farmers valued NARORICE-1 for its aroma, high yield, and early maturity. The project’s training of a community seed producer improved farmers’ access to NARORICE-1 seeds, increasing its adoption by 20% in two years. NARORICE-1 is much more in demand than any other variety and attracts a better price, making it an ideal innovation for increasing productivity and farmer’s incomes. An effective seed system and continuous farmer training are vital for accelerating impact.

Designing development interventions: The application of service design and discrete choice experiments in complex settings

The persistence of problems such as endemic poverty, rising inequalities, climate change and biodiversity loss demands us to find solutions which are embedded in a highly complex web of interacting social, technological, and ecological processes. Service design (SD), an approach to directly involve citizens in the development and improvement of services and systems, shows promise as a tool to support the design of interventions to address complex development challenges in the Global South. In this paper we describe how service design was used alongside discrete choice experiments (DCEs) to inform the design of a Weather Index Insurance product for small holder farmers in Uganda. As part of the service design process, we used archetypes to capture and articulate the multiple vulnerabilities of farmers and quickly test prototype insurance packages to identify important design features. DCEs tested promising design features in a manner that complemented as well as triangulated the service design phase. The results of both phases were used to inform the design of a WII product that has been taken up by major insurance providers in Uganda. The approach complements and builds on qualitative work typically done to inform DCEs by opening up space for research participants to question core assumptions, and by involving respondents directly in the process of designing a future service.

Situational analysis of abiotic and biotic factors influencing abundance of tissue culture and non-tissue culture bananas in smallholder farms in western Uganda

Bananas are, in Uganda primarily, grown for domestic consumption and regional trade. Production is constrained by several factors such as declining soil fertility, pests and disease, and erratic rainfall. Tissue culture banana were introduced partly to solve some of the challenges in banana production, though uptake of such technologies by smallholder farmers is still low. A survey on plant parasitic nematodes, banana weevils, and selected soil factors was done to analyse their effect on the abundance of tissue culture banana (TCB) and non-tissue culture banana (NTCB). Soil and banana root samples were collected from heterogeneous on-farm orchard conditions in smallholder farms. Composite banana root samples and composite soil samples were collected from banana orchards already established by farmers. A total of 1,280 genets from 20 orchards were obtained. Composite soil samples were analysed for pH, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic matter. Endo-parasitic Helicotylenchus multinctus, Platylenchus goodeyi, Radopholous similis and Meloidogyne spp were isolated from the composite root samples. Banana weevils were captured using the disc-on-stamp and split-pseudo stem traps. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) and logistic regression were run to ascertain the relationship between variations in biotic [Nematodes and weevils] and abiotic [pH, K, Av.P, N, and OM] factors affecting the abundance of the banana type. Canonical eigenvalues showed that both biotic and abiotic variables significantly affected the abundance of TCB and NTCB banana types. Abundance of TCB was influenced by the banana weevil (P<0.05) than it was by nematodes in the same farmers’ fields. Infestation with nematodes for TCB and NTCB banana types was not different (P<0.05). The banana weevils were significantly (P<0.05) distributed within the districts. Relative abundances for the pH, phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen (%), organic matter (%) within districts were significant (P<0.05). Variations in soil pH and nitrogen availability resulted in significant interactions (P<0.05) that affected the abundance of the TCB types more than their contribution to the abundance of NTCB. The awareness that the interactions between nematodes, banana weevils, phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and pH determine the abundance of banana types is important in shaping the adoption and production of the adopted banana technology. Mitigation of acidic pH, K, Av.P, N, and OM for soil fertility and reduction of the abundance of nematodes and weevils below the threshold will enhance banana production among small holder farmers in Uganda. Key words: abundance, banana weevil, nematodes, eigenvalues, interactions, tissue culture, genet, heterogeneous

Drivers of Access to Credit Among Smallholder Farmers in Uganda: Application of Binary Logistic Model

This study aimed at determining the drivers of access to credit among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Using a cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 374 farmers in Jinja district, followed by data analysis using descriptive statistics and Binary logistic regression model. Additionally, we used Chi-square and t-test to compare farmers with and without access to credit. The results showed that 62.83% of the farmers had access to credit. Additionally, farmers with access to credit were generally better off than those without access to credit. Having a mobile phone (p<0.01), group membership (p<0.01), access to extension (p<0.05), farm size (p<0.01) and distance to the market (p<0.05) had a positive and significant effect on credit access while non-farm income (p<0.05) showed an inverse relationship with credit access. To increase credit access among the smallholder farmers, farmers should be encouraged to purchase mobile phones and join groups where they would disseminate information on the various source of agricultural credit. Extension workers should also make effects of reaching all the farmers and training them on ways of accessing agricultural credit