Value Chain Development in Uganda: Lessons Learned from the Application of the Participatory Market Chain Approach

The participatory market chain approach (PMCA) aims to stimulate innovations that improve the participation of small-scale farmers and processors in high-value market chains. From 2005 to 2007, the PMCA was introduced and applied on Uganda’s potato, sweet potato, and vegetable market chains. Market observations and stakeholder interviews indicate that the PMCA has contributed to the knowledge and skills of market chain actors and service providers, as well as strengthened the social capital needed for effective innovation processes. Commercial, technological, and institutional innovations have emerged, including development of products like sweet potato crisps and flour and a hot pepper appetizer, better packaging for potato crisps and sweet potato flour, and contract farming arrangements. While some of the first innovations were only used for a short time, others are still being used today. Additionally, the PMCA produced innovation processes that triggered further innovations. Strengthened social networks have facilitated information sharing and business development. Farmers, including women, have improved their market earnings and family welfare. After their initial work with the PMCA, several facilitators have delivered PMCA training or used this approach in other market chain development projects. The Ugandan experience highlights the importance of providing business development services after the PMCA, capacity development for farmers to improve their responsiveness to changing market demands, and sustainable arrangements for innovation brokerage services

Perceptions on Liking and Disliking Public Agricultural Research Institutes in Uganda: A Case of Abi, Bulindi, Ngetta, Mbarara and Mukono ZARDIs

A ZARDI wide study project ‘Harnessing the domino effect for transformative technology promotion and outreach’ was carried in three different phases starting from 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/2021. A multi stage qualitative studies were done through Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews, and observations in addition to employing the use of Social Resource Maps. Quantitative study carried from the five ZARDIs drew a total of N=1093 respondents. The study was subjected to two different tests carried to confirm; the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) Measure of Sampling Adequacy (MSA) and Bartlett’s test of Sphericity (df) for factors explaining the liking and disliking of the PARIs. The study findings revealed two important factors for liking (Positive PARIs image); reliable and trusted source of technology and information, and exhibits good community relations.  Factors explaining disliking (Negative PARIs image) include; Limited access to information, technologies and markets and in-adequate community outreach programs. This study concludes that, Public Agricultural Research Institutes are not just perceived by their managerial practices nor just defined by its programs and mandates, but they are functions of at least interrelated positive and negative factors. Keywords: Public perceptions, technology, likes and dislikes, image and ZARDIs. DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/76-04 Publication date:June 30th 202