EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY BASED SEED MULTIPLICATION IN ENHANCING FARMERS\u2019 KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO IMPROVED BEAN SEEDS IN WESTERN UGANDA

Community Based Seed Multiplication (CBSM) approaches have been used by agricultural research and development actors to improve farmers\u2019 access to quality seed in many developing countries. CBSM can be private or public driven. However, ways of designing the CBSM for optimum effectiveness under public and private contexts are not well understood. This study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of public sector driven CBSM and factors influencing farmers\u2019 access to improved bean seed. The study was conducted in Kamwenge District, western Uganda. An expost facto post-test only design was used to compare the knowledge and accesss outcomes for membership and non-membership farmers. Data were collected from 249 respondents, using a structured questionnaire. Ordered probit regression was used to assess factors which influenced farmers\u2019 access to improved bean seeds. Results indicated that Public sector driven CBSM had a significant positive effect (P=0.000) on farmers\u2019 knowledge at (P 640.05) and access to improved bean seeds. Farmers\u2019 access to improved bean seeds was positively influenced by income obtained from beans (P=0.011), distance from farm to the nearest bean market (P=0.036). The CBSM was more beneficial to membership farmers in remote areas compared to those closer to formal seed markets. We recommend that a public sector driven CBSM should target all farmers directly, most especially those in remote areas who lack access to commercial seed outlets.Les approches de la Multiplication Communautaire Des Graines (CBSM) ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9es par les acteurs de recherches agricoles et du d\ue9veloppement pour am\ue9liorer l\u2019acc\ue8s des agriculteurs aux semences de qualit\ue9 dans plusieurs pays en d\ue9veloppement. CBSM peut \ueatre priv\ue9es ou publiques. Cependant, les mani\ue8res de concevoir les CBSM pour une efficacit\ue9 optimale dans les contextes publics et priv\ue9s ne sont pas encore bien comprises. Cette \ue9tude \ue9tait conduite pour explorer l\u2019efficacit\ue9 du secteur public utilisant les CBSM et les facteurs influen\ue7ant l\u2019acc\ue8s des producteurs aux semences des vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es du haricot. Cette \ue9tude \ue9tait conduite dans le district de Kamwenge, dans l\u2019Ouest d\u2019Ouganda. Le design bas\ue9 sur expost facto post-test \ue9tait utilis\ue9 pour comparer la connaissance et les revenus de l\u2019acc\ue8s pour les agriculteurs membres et non membres. Les donn\ue9es \ue9taient collect\ue9es sur 249 r\ue9pondants, en utilisant un questionnaire structur\ue9. La r\ue9gression ordonn\ue9e de Probit \ue9tait utilis\ue9e pour \ue9valuer les facteurs qui influencent l\u2019acc\ue8s des producteurs aux semences du haricot am\ue9lior\ue9. Les r\ue9sultats ont indiqu\ue9 que le secteur public utilisant les CBSM a un effet significatif positif (P=0,000) sur la connaissance des producteurs (P<0,05) et l\u2019acc\ue8s aux semences du haricot am\ue9lior\ue9. L\u2019acc\ue8s des producteurs aux semences du haricot am\ue9lior\ue9 \ue9tait positivement influenc\ue9 par le revenu obtenu du haricot (P=0,011), la distance du champ au march\ue9 plus proche du haricot (P=0,036). Le CBSM \ue9tait plus b\ue9n\ue9fique aux producteurs membres des milieux recul\ue9s que ceux proches du march\ue9 formel de semences. Nous recommandons qu\u2019un secteur public conduisant CBSM se focalise sur tous les producteurs directement, plus sp\ue9cialement ceux-l\ue0 dans les milieux recul\ue9s qui manquent d\u2019acc\ue8s aux exutoires de semences commerciales

Climate, agriculture and knowledge in Africa: Agricultural research and advisory services in the face of climate change. Final synthesis report of the climate learning for African agriculture project

The vulnerability of African agriculture to climate change creates key tasks of promoting agricultural adaptations and adaptive capacity in agriculture, and embracing opportunities for low-carbon development in agriculture. Agricultural research services, and agricultural advisory services, will be key actors in this work. This report synthesises findings from the project Climate Learning for African Agriculture, assessing how African agricultural research and advisory services are taking account of climate issues in their policies and practices, and how they can better do so in future. The project worked both at a regional level and through case studies in Sierra Leone, Benin, Uganda and Mozambique, with a strong emphasis on shared learning through national- and local-level workshops

TH2.1: Understanding femininities: Implications for women's Participation in Agricultural interventions in central Uganda

Research has documented how men's behaviors in patriarchal settings affect women's economic empowerment outcomes, while less attention has been paid to how gender identity constructions around femininities influence these outcomes. We define femininities as gender based roles and expected behaviors of women in a given community and economic empowerment as women's decision-making regarding access and control of productive resources and management of income. This paper presents research on how female and male farmers in rural communities of central Uganda define what it means to be a woman and how those identity constructions influence women's economic empowerment. This qualitative case study is based on focus group discussions conducted with Sasakawa Africa Association intervention farmers (28 women and 25 men) of Kiboga District. Six focus group discussions were conducted, two with men only, women only, and both men and women respectively. Findings reveal co-existence of traditional and progressive femininities, dubbed "unruly" by men and some women. Traditional femininities were depicted as women complying to community values which deter them from financial decision making and owning productive resources. Progressive femininities on the other hand are noncompliant to these community values, and enjoy more economic empowerment. Men valued economically empowered women because they relieve men of financial responsibilities. Incorporating gender transformative approaches in women's economic empowerment interventions could decode traditional femininities and increase women's intrinsic agency within the context of economic empowerment

Information sources and constraints under national agricultural advisory services programme, of service providers in Uganda

No Abstract

Gender and Social Economic Factors Affecting IPM Knowledge Acquisition and Application: A Case Study of Coffee Farmer Group Members in Bugisu, Uganda

The paper presents findings from a study conducted to determine men and women farmers’ knowledge of the coffee Stem Borer IPM practices and socio-economic factors influencing the level of farmers’ knowledge in Bugisu sub region, Uganda. A post training cross sectional survey of 71 men and 55 women members of coffee IPM groups who had participated in training on coffee stem borer IPM was conducted. The knowledge of training participants was computed using a knowledge index and difference between knowledge levels of men and women farmers compared using independent t test. It was found that men had a significantly higher mean score on the IPM knowledge index compared to women. In addition, there was a significant correlation between knowledge of CSB IPM with gender, educational level, marital status, household labor, coffee acreage, years in the coffee group and women’s mobility. The results imply that greater competence is achieved when group training methods were complemented with more personal extension methods such as on farm visits. In addition, targeting various social groups including women, youth, and those who are not members of social and economic groups with the intention of addressing their unique needs would boost their IPM knowledge level. For women, knowledge acquisition is enhanced when gender based barriers to their participation in learning groups are addressed

Formation of effective multi-stakeholder Platforms: Lessons from coffee innovation platforms in Uganda

Agricultural innovation systems’ thinking has been adopted in agricultural research and development to harness the actor innovative capabilities, knowledge enhancement and social transformation. Hence there is growing recognition of the viability of Innovation platforms (IPs) as an approach to stimulating development of agricultural enterprises due to their emphasis on value chain development, networking and partnerships. However, despite the key role of the formation process in realization of desired outcomes, there is insufficient knowledge on how to form vibrant agricultural innovation platforms under diverse contexts. This study sought to examine the gaps and draw lessons for effective IP formation using the case of the coffee IPs in the four districts of Luwero, Ntungamo, Bushenyi and Rakai in Uganda. Data were collected through key informant interviews with 32 actors of the coffee steering committees and from document review. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using content and thematic analysis. Gaps identified in the IP formation processes included exclusion of some key stakeholders, unclear management and financing mechanisms, and weak governance structures at lower levels. To enhance legitimacy of innovation platforms, the study recommends a formation operational model with four main components of actor identification and mobilization, visioning and strategy formulation process, IP culture and development of governance structures

Formation of effective multi-stakeholder Platforms: Lessons from coffee innovation platforms in Uganda

Agricultural innovation systems’ thinking has been adopted in agricultural research and development to harness the actor innovative capabilities, knowledge enhancement and social transformation. Hence there is growing recognition of the viability of Innovation platforms (IPs) as an approach to stimulating development of agricultural enterprises due to their emphasis on value chain development, networking and partnerships. However, despite the key role of the formation process in realization of desired outcomes, there is insufficient knowledge on how to form vibrant agricultural innovation platforms under diverse contexts. This study sought to examine the gaps and draw lessons for effective IP formation using the case of the coffee IPs in the four districts of Luwero, Ntungamo, Bushenyi and Rakai in Uganda. Data were collected through key informant interviews with 32 actors of the coffee steering committees and from document review. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using content and thematic analysis. Gaps identified in the IP formation processes included exclusion of some key stakeholders, unclear management and financing mechanisms, and weak governance structures at lower levels. To enhance legitimacy of innovation platforms, the study recommends a formation operational model with four main components of actor identification and mobilization, visioning and strategy formulation process, IP culture and development of governance structures

Factors affecting effective performance of rural producers’ organizations in the Teso farming system, Uganda

No Abstract

Elaborating institutional arrangements to better enhance sustainable crop intensification in Uganda: a farmers’ perspective

Weak and inefficient institutional arrangements have been identified as a major cause of the slow pace of agricultural growth in developing countries. Institutions – the humanly devised constraints that shape human interaction – play a significant role in Sustainable Crop Intensification (SCI) in Uganda. This study uses farmers' perceptions to assess institutions and their roles in SCI. We collected data from 135 rice and potato-producing households in Eastern and Southwestern regions of Uganda between January and February 2017. We used Focus Group Discussions to identify and categorize institutional typologies following which we asked households to evaluate several institutional aspects. Overall, institutional contributions to SCI were highly valued by farmers. Based on functional, organizational, and managerial obstacles, farmers perceived formal institutions to be ineffective while they perceived informal farmer's institutions to be the most relevant institutions as they provided financial resources that alleviated constraints to agricultural production and met livelihood needs. We found a lack of coordination between the micro, meso, and macro-level institutions, which then affected their institutional functionality to execute SCI. There is a need for innovation within existing institutions, and a status quo of institutional arrangements that would better respond to smallholders' needs