Women’s production capacities enhancement and gender yield gap reduction in groundnuts in Uganda

Literature shows that women in many African farming communities are more involved in agricultural production activities than men, but their capacities, including access to key farm resources and markets are lower, leading to gender differentials in productivity or yield gaps. In Uganda, women make up 53% of the agricultural labor force, but reportedly manage plots that are 20-30% less productive than plots managed by the men. This study analyses groundnut production differences among female and male farmers in Uganda. Yield gaps between the male and female farmers are considered at two levels; differences between actual and potential yields, and differences between expected and actual yields. A total of 240 randomly selected farmers (58% females) were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. Using regression analysis, factors that contributed to groundnut yield gaps among and between female and male farmers were determined. Results show that both female and male farmers experience a yield gap ranging from about 20% to 37%. The results further indicate that more men than women use improved seed, fungicides, and carry out timely weeding; the crucial factors that affect groundnut output and yield. Majority of farmers, especially women, use home saved seeds and fewer improved technologies due to high cost, leading to low production. Other factors contributing to the yield gap are socio-demographic, economic and institutional factors including less access to extension services by women, less access to and/or control over land, lower affordability of labor and other key inputs

Farmers’ acceptance of insects as an alternative protein source in poultry feeds

The research aimed at assessing the perceptions and willingness of poultry farmers, feed traders and processors to use insects as a source of protein ingredient in poultry feed. The research used a cross-sectional design and a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 287 poultry farmers and 71 feed traders from 3 culturally diverse regions in Uganda. The study findings revealed that majority of the farmers mixed their own poultry feed. Willingness to use insects in poultry feeds was expressed by over 70% of the farmers, feed traders and processors, indicating a strong potential demand for insect-based feeds. However, some poultry farmers doubted the possibility of acquiring insects (rearing/harvesting) in large enough quantities and the consumers’ acceptance of poultry products from birds raised on insect-based feed. Nonetheless, there is a high potential for adoption of insects for use as poultry feed if they can be produced in sustainable quantities that ensure the viability of poultry farming and the feed processing businesses. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 8 (2): 32-41, December, 201

Host-plant and insect-pest compensations, and microclimate as drivers for intensity of Toxoptera aurantii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Arabica coffee-banana farming system of mount Elgon region, Uganda

Host-plants and insect-pests\u2019 compensational relationships are known to enable plants and insects to survive and adopt to changing environmental conditions. In the mount Elgon region of Uganda, exists a mosaical pattern of different coffee farming systems with increasing altitudes, and their combinations create differing microclimates, which influence host-plant and pest behaviors. The objective of this study was to determine the host-plant and Toxoptera aurantii compensations in Arabica coffee cropping systems of mount Elgon region in Uganda. A two-year study on the coffee leaf biomass, T. aurantii numbers on the leaf surface, and damage intensity of T. aurantii, was conducted using 72 Arabica coffee farms with mixed coffee polycultures (farming systems). Two independent factors were considered; altitude as a major factor and the farming system as the second factor. There was evidence of significant host-plant and insect-pest compensations; host-plant/microclimates, and insect-pest /microclimates. Linear regression analysis revealed a - relationship (number of leaves /branch / T. aurantii numbers). A + relationship (number of leaves / branch infested by T. aurantii / T. aurantii abundance). Also T. aurantii abundance had a + relationship / RH or/ambient temperature). The Arabica coffee leaves/ branch had a \u2013 relationship (ambient temperature or/ RH). While the T. aurantii infested leaves /branch only had a + relationship with RH. Regarding the soil variables it was only soil temperature which had a + relationship with the number of leaves /branch. The T. aurantii infested leaves /branch had a + relationship (soil temperature or/soil moisture).Les relations de compensation entre les plantes h\uf4tes et les insectes ravageurs sont connues pour permettre aux plantes et aux insectes de survivre et de s\u2019adapter aux conditions environnementales changeantes. Dans la r\ue9gion du mont Elgon en Ouganda, il existe un mod\ue8le mosa\uefque de diff\ue9rents syst\ue8mes de culture du caf\ue9 avec des altitudes croissantes, et leurs combinaisons cr\ue9ent des microclimats diff\ue9rents, qui influencent les comportements des plantes h\uf4tes et des ravageurs. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de d\ue9terminer les compensations de la plante h\uf4te et de Toxoptera aurantii avec le microclimat dans le caf\ue9 Arabica dans des conditions d\u2019altitudes et de syst\ue8mes de culture diff\ue9rents. Une \ue9tude de deux ans sur la biomasse des feuilles de caf\ue9ier, le nombre de T. aurantii \ue0 la surface des feuilles et l\u2019intensit\ue9 des d\ue9g\ue2ts de T. aurantii a \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9e dans 72 plantations de caf\ue9 Arabica avec polycultures de caf\ue9 m\ue9lang\ue9 (syst\ue8mes agricoles). Deux facteurs ind\ue9pendants ont \ue9t\ue9 consid\ue9r\ue9s; l\u2019altitude comme facteur majeur et le syst\ue8me agricole comme deuxi\ue8me facteur. Il y avait des preuves de compensations importantes pour les plantes h\uf4tes et les insectes nuisibles; plante h\uf4te / microclimats; et insectes nuisibles / microclimats. Une analyse de r\ue9gression lin\ue9aire a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 une relation - (nombre de feuilles / branches / nombres de T. aurantii). Relation A + (nombre de feuilles / branches infest\ue9es par T. aurantii / T. aurantii abondance). L\u2019abondance de T. aurantii avait \ue9galement une relation + / RH ou / temp\ue9rature ambiante). Les feuilles / branches de caf\ue9 Arabica avaient une relation - (temp\ue9rature ambiante ou / RH). Alors que les feuilles / branches infest\ue9es par T. aurantii n\u2019avaient qu\u2019une relation + avec le RH. En ce qui concerne les variables du sol, seule la temp\ue9rature du sol a une relation + avec le nombre de feuilles / branche. Les feuilles / branches infest\ue9es par T. aurantii avaient une relation + (temp\ue9rature du sol ou / humidit\ue9 du sol)

Bridging the gap: decomposing sources of gender yield gaps in Uganda groundnut production

Female plot managers in Sub-Saharan Africa often realize significantly lower crop yields than their male counterparts. Even for legumes, which are often referred to as ‘women’s crops’, yields are significantly lower. This study investigated the underlying causes of this gender yield gap in groundnut production. The analysis is based on survey data from 228 farm households from two groundnut growing regions in Uganda. We used the Blinder-Oaxaca model to decompose factors that contribute to this yield gap. Results show 63% and 44% gender yield gaps for improved and local varieties, respectively, with female plot managers realizing less than their male counterparts. Improved groundnut seeds increase female plot manager’s yields but not the yields of male plot managers. Male advantage and female disadvantage combined account for more than 70% of the yield gap in both improved and local groundnut variety production and exceed pure productivity differences. Labor use differences between female and male plot managers and variety types explain the observed yield gap. Interventions and policies that increase women’s access to productive inputs including improved seed will significantly contribute to closing the yield gap, and thereby increase crop production, food security, as well as women’s incomes

Efficiency and possibilities for Arabica coffee-banana management systems switching in the Mt. Elgon landscape of Uganda

Sustainably intensifying rural agricultural systems is now a development goal that has gained momentum in the recent decades due to a rapidly growing population and feeds directly into the Sustainable Development Goals of ending poverty and hunger. By 2050, the world will be inhabited by 10 billion people, 68% of whom will be city dwellers which will pose serious food and livelihoods security threats to millions of people, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to analyse technical efficiency of four production systems in Arabica coffee-banana farming system of the Mt. Elgon in Uganda and assesses possibilities for switching from one system to another. The study was motivated by the notion that smallholder farmers do not easily adopt new systems because of opportunity costs related to input substitution, input and/or efficiency reduction and systems redesigning. We estimated a production function to measure technical efficiency and ordered the intensification pathways to create a Technical Efficiency (TE) gradient. An ordered logit model was then estimated to determine the factors influencing farmers to switch among systems, by adopting one or more following a TE gradient. Results showed that farmers produced 50% of the maximum possible Arabica coffee output, indicating huge gaps between actual and potential yields. Use of fertiliser for the lowest efficiency. Low-input-low-output pathway and improved coffee genotypes, manure and labour intensification for the higher technical efficiency clusters such as conventional and mild agroecological would also significantly increase the chances of switching from low to highly efficient and sustainable Arabica coffee production systems in the Mt. Elgon watershed of Uganda.L\u2019intensification durable des syst\ue8mes agricoles ruraux est un objectif de d\ue9veloppement durable qui a\ua0\ue9t\ue9 pris\ua0en compte pour mettre fin \ue0 la pauvret\ue9 et la faim dans une population en croissance rapide. Le monde sera habit\ue9 par 10 milliards de personnes, dont 68% seront des citadins en 2050, ce qui posera de graves menaces \ue0 la s\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire et des moyens de subsistance de millions de personnes, en particulier en Afrique Sub-Saharienne. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019analyser l\u2019efficacit\ue9 de technique de quatre syst\ue8mes de production dans le syst\ue8me de culture caf\ue9-banane Arabica du mont Elgon en Ouganda et \ue9value les possibilit\ue9s de passer d\u2019un syst\ue8me \ue0 un autre. L\u2019\ue9tude \ue9tait motiv\ue9e par l\u2019id\ue9e que les petits exploitants agricoles n\u2019adoptent pas facilement de nouveaux syst\ue8mes en raison des co\ufbts d\u2019opportunit\ue9 li\ue9s \ue0 la substitution des intrants, la r\ue9duction des intrants et / ou de l\u2019efficacit\ue9 et la refonte des syst\ue8mes. Nous avons estim\ue9 une fonction de production pour mesurer l\u2019efficacit\ue9 de technique et nous avons ordonn\ue9 les voies d\u2019intensification pour cr\ue9er un gradient l\u2019efficacit\ue9 de technique (TE). Un mod\ue8le logit ordonn\ue9 a ensuite \ue9t\ue9 estim\ue9 pour d\ue9terminer les facteurs qui poussent les agriculteurs \ue0 basculer entre les syst\ue8mes, en adoptant un ou plusieurs suivant un gradient TE. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que les agriculteurs produisaient 50% de la production maximale possible de caf\ue9 Arabica, indiquant d\u2019\ue9normes \ue9carts entre les rendements r\ue9els et potentiels. Utilisation d\u2019engrais pour une efficacit\ue9 minimale. Une fili\ue8re \ue0 faibles intrants et \ue0 faible rendement et des g\ue9notypes de caf\ue9 am\ue9lior\ue9s, du fumier et une intensification de la main-d\u2019\u153uvre pour les grappes \ue0 plus haute efficacit\ue9 de technique telles que l\u2019agro\ue9cologie conventionnelle et douce augmenteraient \ue9galement consid\ue9rablement les chances de passer de syst\ue8mes de production de caf\ue9 Arabica faibles \ue0 tr\ue8s efficaces et durables dans le bassin versant du Mont Elgon en Ouganda

Farmers’ acceptance of insects as an alternative protein source in poultry feeds

The research aimed at assessing the perceptions and willingness of poultry farmers, feed traders and processors to use insects as a source of protein ingredient in poultry feed. The research used a cross-sectional design and a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 287 poultry farmers and 71 feed traders from 3 culturally diverse regions in Uganda. The study findings revealed that majority of the farmers mixed their own poultry feed. Willingness to use insects in poultry feeds was expressed by over 70% of the farmers, feed traders and processors, indicating a strong potential demand for insect-based feeds. However, some poultry farmers doubted the possibility of acquiring insects (rearing/harvesting) in large enough quantities and the consumers’ acceptance of poultry products from birds raised on insect-based feed. Nonetheless, there is a high potential for adoption of insects for use as poultry feed if they can be produced in sustainable quantities that ensure the viability of poultry farming and the feed processing businesses

FARMERS’ ACCEPTANCE OF INSECTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCE IN POULTRY FEEDS

The research aimed at assessing the perceptions and willingness of poultry farmers, feed traders and processors to use insects as a source of protein ingredient in poultry feed. The research used a cross-sectional design and a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 287 poultry farmers and 71 feed traders from 3 culturally diverse regions in Uganda. The study findings revealed that majority of the farmers mixed their own poultry feed. Willingness to use insects in poultry feeds was expressed by over 70% of the farmers, feed traders and processors, indicating a strong potential demand for insect-based feeds. However, some poultry farmers doubted the possibility of acquiring insects (rearing/harvesting) in large enough quantities and the consumers’ acceptance of poultry products from birds raised on insect-based feed. Nonetheless, there is a high potential for adoption of insects for use as poultry feed if they can be produced in sustainable quantities that ensure the viability of poultry farming and the feed processing businesses

Gender topics on potato research and development.

Sustainable Development Goals 5 calls for addressing gender equality and women empowerment by, among other things, eliminating all forms of discrimination against women. At CIP we interpret this to mean strengthening the use of gender approaches in research and ensuring that research products are responsive to the needs of men and women. This chapter reviews lessons learnt over the years on integrating gender into potato research and development. The chapter discusses how gender has been approached in five key themes in potato research, namely (1) conserving and accessing genetic resources, (2) genetics and crop improvement, (3) managing priority pests and disease, (4) access to seed (seed flows and networks), and (5) marketing, postharvest processing and utilization. This chapter discusses how gender relations that favor men influence women’s participation in and their ability to benefit from potato production, marketing, and research for development. The review shows that potato research has been increasingly focusing on social determinants of potato farming because of the realization that purely technical solutions will not solve inefficiencies in potato production. Using a gender relations approach, the chapter attempts to draw out lessons that can contribute to the design of future potato interventions including research aimed at reducing the gender gap in agriculture in general and potato farming in particular