Analysis of profit inefficiency in rice production in Eastern and Northern Uganda

Rice is among the emerging crops in Uganda that play an important role both as a food and a cash crop. It ranks fourth among the cereal crops in area cultivated, occupying a total of 80 thousand hectares of land with an estimated annual output of 120,000 metric tonnes. The study analyses sources of technical and allocative inefficiency and estimates the magnitude of profit losses and suggests policy interventions. A stochastic profit function and inefficiency function are estimated using cross-sectional data from a sample of 253 households from three districts of Eastern and Northern Uganda. The results show that rice farmers are not operating on the profit frontier. The main causes of inefficiency are firm-specific which include low education and limited access to extension services. These two factors have hampered the attainment of reasonable technical and allocative efficiency. From these results, it is clear that improvement in profit efficiency would require focused programmes to increase access to education and extension services

ASSESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN UGANDA

The debate on whether climate change will impact on peoples\u2019 livelihoods and, hence, the need to act is essentially over and has instead shifted to the development of strategies needed by different regions and countries to adapt to climate change effects. However, there is still scanty information necessary to ably address climate change related issues. There is a considerable knowledge gap with respect to climate change impact, vulnerability and adaptation to increased climate variability and change. In this paper, using the trade off analysis model, the impact of climate change on peoples\u2019 livelihoods and possible adaptation strategies to increase the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems in three regions of Uganda (central, Masaka and southwest) are analysed. The results show that 70-97% of households will be adversely affected by climate change in Uganda. The southwest will be most affected due to smaller farm sizes and limited livelihood alternatives. There will be no positive gains from encroaching on swamps, which is one of the reported adaptation strategies to climate related stresses. Improving productivity of important crops (bananas for southwest, and sweet potatoes and bananas for central region), in addition to adoption of grade cattle will likely be a better adaptation strategy for climate change.Le d\ue9bat sur le fait que le changement climatique pourra affecter le mode de vie des populations et, ainsi la n\ue9cessit\ue9 d\u2019agir est arriv\ue9 et consiste \ue0 d\ue9velopper des strat\ue9gies en rapport avec les besoins de diff\ue9rentes r\ue9gions et pays pour l\u2019adaptation aux effets du changement climatique. Cependant, les informations disponibles sont encore insuffisantes afin d\u2019adresser correctement les probl\ue8mes y relatifs. Il existe tant de lacunes sur les connaissances en rapport avec les impacts du changement climatique, la vuln\ue9rabilit\ue9 et l\u2019adaptation \ue0 la variabilit\ue9 et changement climatique accrus. En utilisant le mod\ue8le du trade off analysis, cet article a analys\ue9 l\u2019impact du changement climatique sur le mode de vie des populations et des strat\ue9gies possibles d\u2019adaptation, afin d\u2019am\ue9liorer la r\ue9silience et la durabilit\ue9 des syst\ue8mes culturaux dans les trois r\ue9gions de l\u2019Ouganda (Centre, Masaka et sud- ouest). Les r\ue9sultats montrent que 70-97% des m\ue9nages seront touch\ue9s par des effets du changement climatique en Ouganda. Le sud-ouest sera le plus affect\ue9 par suite de tailles petites de ses exploitations et son mode de vie \ue0 moyens alternatifs limit\ue9s. L\u2019invasion des marais ne rapportera aucun gain positif qui est une des strat\ue9gies d\u2019adaptation indiqu\ue9es au stress climatique relatif. L\u2019am\ue9lioration de la productivit\ue9 des cultures importantes (bananiers au Sud-ouest, et les patates douces et le bananier dans la r\ue9gion centrale) en plus de l\u2019adoption des vaches am\ue9lior\ue9es pourra serait une meilleur strat\ue9gie d\u2019adaptation au changement climatique

DETERMINANTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AMONG MALE AND FEMALE HEADED FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN EASTERN UGANDA

Adaptation is considered an appropriate response to climate change and variability, especially for the smallholder farmers. However, the response decisions and actions of male and female farmers may be influenced by various factor and factor combinations that are not adequately understood. We hypothesized that both male and female farmers are climate change conscious and responsive; and that there is a gender dimension to the choice of a climate change adaptation strategy. We utilised a combination of descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis to study the factors that influence the choice of a decision to adapt to a climate change scenario. Using cross-sectional data collected from 136 households in eastern Uganda, we undertook the analysis at two levels; pooled sample analysis and a gender disaggregated analysis. Contrary to perceived wisdom and evidence from other empirical studies, the factors that influence the climate change adaptation decision vary considerably between male and female household heads. Climate change adaptation decisions of female heads depended on and were sensitive to more covariates compared to the decisions of male heads of household. Furthermore, climate change adaptation decisions of female heads were influenced by more liquid household assets, while those of male heads were influenced by real estate, especially land. Additionally, beyond gender, other demographic factors appeared to play no significant role in the decision to adapt to climate change.L\u2019adaptation est consid\ue9r\ue9e comme \ue9tant une r\ue9ponse appropri\ue9e au changement et \ue0 la variabilit\ue9 climatique, sp\ue9cialement pour les petits fermiers. Par ailleurs, les d\ue9cisions de la r\ue9ponse et les actions entreprises par les hommes et les femmes seraient influenc\ue9es par des facteurs vari\ue9s et une combinaison des facteurs on encore ad\ue9quatement compris. Nous avons pos\ue9s des hypoth\ue8ses selon lesquelles les fermiers hommes et femmes sont conscients du changement climatique et y r\ue9agissent cons\ue9quemment. Aussi, il existe une dimension du genre face au choix d\u2019une strat\ue9gie d\u2019adaptation au changement climatique. Nous avons utilis\ue9 une combinaison de la statistique descriptive et l\u2019analyse de la r\ue9gression logistique pour \ue9tudier les facteurs qui influencent le choix d\u2019une d\ue9cision d\u2019adaptation \ue0 un scenario de changement climatique. En utilisant des donn\ue9es transversales collect\ue9es dans 136 m\ue9nages \ue0 l\u2019Est de l\u2019Uganda, l\u2019analyse \ue9tait faite en deux niveaux : l\u2019analyse des \ue9chantillons group\ue9s et l\u2019analyse du genre d\ue9sagr\ue9g\ue9. Contrairement \ue0 la sagesse et l\u2019\ue9vidence per\ue7ues d\u2019autres \ue9tudes empiriques, les facteurs qui influencent la d\ue9cision pour l\u2019adaptation au changement climatique varient consid\ue9rablement entre hommes et femmes responsables des m\ue9nages. La prise des d\ue9cisions par les femmes responsables des m\ue9nages d\ue9pendait de plusieurs co-variantes en comparaison aux d\ue9cisions prises par les hommes. En plus, les d\ue9cisions prises par les femmes \ue9taient influenc\ue9es par des biens liquides de m\ue9nages, la prise des d\ue9cisions par les hommes \ue9tait dict\ue9e par des avoirs tels que la terre. Additionnellement, au del\ue0 du facteur genre, d\u2019autres facteurs d\ue9mographiques ont jou\ue9 un r\uf4le bien que non significatif dans la prise des d\ue9cisions pour l\u2019adaptation au changement climatique

Technologies and infrastructure to reduce the work burden of women : Insights from time-use studies in Ethiopia, Ghana and Uganda

Gender and social norms in African countries result in a greater share of overall work on women than men. Notably, women and girls across the globe undertake a greater share of unpaid domestic and care work than men. This disparity has several implications. First, despite consuming women’s time and effort this work remains unremunerated. Second, by constraining women’s time, it limits their capacity to participate fully in paid work which has implications for women’s income, wealth, resource access and voice and bargaining power within households and the society at large. Moreover, when women and girls undertake both paid and unpaid work, they sacrifice rest and leisure. For young girls and girl children, work impacts their schooling and skills development. The distribution of unpaid work between men and women, however, can change over time with changes in gender norms. Moreover, unpaid work can be reduced through technologies, access to markets and infrastructure. Drawing on PARI research on time use, this policy brief first presents the distribution of men’s and women’s time use between paid work, unpaid work and leisure and highlights the gendered patterns of its distribution in the rural households of Ethiopia, Ghana and Uganda. It further presents these patterns for children and their time in schooling and learning activities. Moreover, we show agricultural and domestic technologies along with access to infrastructure that can reduce unpaid work

Participatory monitoring and evaluation approaches that influence decision-making: lessons from a maternal and newborn study in Eastern Uganda

BACKGROUND: The use of participatory monitoring and evaluation (M&E) approaches is important for guiding local decision-making, promoting the implementation of effective interventions and addressing emerging issues in the course of implementation. In this article, we explore how participatory M&E approaches helped to identify key design and implementation issues and how they influenced stakeholders’ decision-making in eastern Uganda. METHOD: The data for this paper is drawn from a retrospective reflection of various M&E approaches used in a maternal and newborn health project that was implemented in three districts in eastern Uganda. The methods included qualitative and quantitative M&E techniques such as key informant interviews, formal surveys and supportive supervision, as well as participatory approaches, notably participatory impact pathway analysis. RESULTS: At the design stage, the M&E approaches were useful for identifying key local problems and feasible local solutions and informing the activities that were subsequently implemented. During the implementation phase, the M&E approaches provided evidence that informed decision-making and helped identify emerging issues, such as weak implementation by some village health teams, health facility constraints such as poor use of standard guidelines, lack of placenta disposal pits, inadequate fuel for the ambulance at some facilities, and poor care for low birth weight infants. Sharing this information with key stakeholders prompted them to take appropriate actions. For example, the sub-county leadership constructed placenta disposal pits, the district health officer provided fuel for ambulances, and health workers received refresher training and mentorship on how to care for newborns. CONCLUSION: Diverse sources of information and perspectives can help researchers and decision-makers understand and adapt evidence to contexts for more effective interventions. Supporting districts to have crosscutting, routine information generating and sharing platforms that bring together stakeholders from different sectors is therefore crucial for the successful implementation of complex development interventions

Poverty analyses in integrated agricultural research for development.

No Abstract

The flexible accelerator model of investment: An application to Ugandan tea-processing firms

The study uses the flexible accelerator model to examine determinants of the level and growth of investment in machinery and equipment for a sample of tea-processing firms in Uganda. Using a dynamic panel data model, we find that, in the long run, the level of investment in machinery and equipment is positively influenced by the accelerator, firm-level liquidity, and a favourable investment climate in the country. Depreciation of the exchange rate negatively affects investment. We conclude that firm-level strategies that increase output and profitability, and a favourable investment policy climate, are imperative to the growth of the tea industry

DETERMINANTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AMONG MALE AND FEMALE HEADED FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN EASTERN UGANDA

Adaptation is considered an appropriate response to climate change and variability, especially for the smallholder farmers. However, the response decisions and actions of male and female farmers may be influenced by various factor and factor combinations that are not adequately understood. We hypothesized that both male and female farmers are climate change conscious and responsive; and that there is a gender dimension to the choice of a climate change adaptation strategy. We utilised a combination of descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis to study the factors that influence the choice of a decision to adapt to a climate change scenario. Using cross-sectional data collected from 136 households in eastern Uganda, we undertook the analysis at two levels; pooled sample analysis and a gender disaggregated analysis. Contrary to perceived wisdom and evidence from other empirical studies, the factors that influence the climate change adaptation decision vary considerably between male and female household heads. Climate change adaptation decisions of female heads depended on and were sensitive to more covariates compared to the decisions of male heads of household. Furthermore, climate change adaptation decisions of female heads were influenced by more liquid household assets, while those of male heads were influenced by real estate, especially land. Additionally, beyond gender, other demographic factors appeared to play no significant role in the decision to adapt to climate change.L’adaptation est considérée comme étant une réponse appropriée au changement et à la variabilité climatique, spécialement pour les petits fermiers. Par ailleurs, les décisions de la réponse et les actions entreprises par les hommes et les femmes seraient influencées par des facteurs variés et une combinaison des facteurs on encore adéquatement compris. Nous avons posés des hypothèses selon lesquelles les fermiers hommes et femmes sont conscients du changement climatique et y réagissent conséquemment. Aussi, il existe une dimension du genre face au choix d’une stratégie d’adaptation au changement climatique. Nous avons utilisé une combinaison de la statistique descriptive et l’analyse de la régression logistique pour étudier les facteurs qui influencent le choix d’une décision d’adaptation à un scenario de changement climatique. En utilisant des données transversales collectées dans 136 ménages à l’Est de l’Uganda, l’analyse était faite en deux niveaux : l’analyse des échantillons groupés et l’analyse du genre désagrégé. Contrairement à la sagesse et l’évidence perçues d’autres études empiriques, les facteurs qui influencent la décision pour l’adaptation au changement climatique varient considérablement entre hommes et femmes responsables des ménages. La prise des décisions par les femmes responsables des ménages dépendait de plusieurs co-variantes en comparaison aux décisions prises par les hommes. En plus, les décisions prises par les femmes étaient influencées par des biens liquides de ménages, la prise des décisions par les hommes était dictée par des avoirs tels que la terre. Additionnellement, au delà du facteur genre, d’autres facteurs démographiques ont joué un rôle bien que non significatif dans la prise des décisions pour l’adaptation au changement climatique

Analysis of Profit Inefficiency in Rice Production in Eastern and Northern Uganda

Rice is among the emerging crops in Uganda that play an important role both as a food and a cash crop. It ranks fourth among the cereal crops in area cultivated, occupying a total of 80 thousand hectares of land with an estimated annual output of 120,000 metric tonnes. The study analyses sources of technical and allocative inefficiency and estimates the magnitude of profit losses and suggests policy interventions. A stochastic profit function and inefficiency function are estimated using cross-sectional data from a sample of 253 households from three districts of Eastern and Northern Uganda. The results show that rice farmers are not operating on the profit frontier. The main causes of inefficiency are firm-specific which include low education and limited access to extension services. These two factors have hampered the attainment of reasonable technical and allocative efficiency. From these results, it is clear that improvement in profit efficiency would require focused programmes to increase access to education and extension services.Le riz est parmi les récoltes émergentes en Ouganda. Il joue un rôle important de nourriture et une récolte génératrice d'argent. Il est classé quatrième parmi les récoltes de céréale dans le secteur cultivé, occupant un total de 80 milles hectares de terre avec une production annuelle estimée de 120.000 tonnes métriques. L'étude analyse des sources d'inefficacité des techniques et dans l'allocation et estime la grandeur de pertes de profit et suggère les interventions dans la réglementation. Une fonction de profit stochastique et la fonction d'inefficacité sont estimés en utilisant des données d'une coupe de section longitudinale d'un échantillon de 253 ménages de trois quartiers de d'est et le nord d'Ouganda. Les résultats montrent que les cultivateurs de riz ne fonctionnent pas sur la frontière de profit. Les causes principales d'inefficacité sont fermes spécifiques qui inclut le bas niveau de l'éducation et l'accès limité aux services d'extension. Ces deux facteurs ont entravé la réalisation de technique raisonnable et d'allocation efficace. De ces résultats, c'est clair que l'amélioration dans l'efficacité de profit exigerait que les programmes soient focalisés sur l'augmentation de l'accès aux services d'éducation et de vulgarisation