TH1.1: Intra-household decision-making and sustained use of agricultural crop technologies: Evidence from smallholder women farmers in rural Uganda

This research used a mixed method approach to examine how intra-household decision-making patterns shape sustained use of crop technologies among agricultural rural households in eastern Uganda. We estimate how empowerment in decision making, measured using indicators drawn from the project level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index mediates sustained use of improved crop varieties. Further, spousal differences in decision-making power and technology use are examined. The results indicate that both men and women use diverse improved crop varieties for different purposes. Overall, we observe differential patterns of use of improved crop varieties with a high proportion of women reporting sustained use of food-related crops while a high proportion of men report income crops. There was a significant association between level of decision making power and sustained use of improved crops by men and women. Women with higher level of participation in decision making power have more sustained use of improved varieties for the main crops grown. Note to be taken that a gender gap still exists in access to improved varieties with men having 6years of use on average as compared to 5 years for women. We also find significant differences between men and women in the same household in their rating of the distribution and extent of involvement in key decisions with less agreement (and mis-attribution) observed among men and women in decision-making scores. Women decision makers tend to allocate themselves higher scores than was assigned to them by their counterparts. We conclude that women's empowerment in decision making has potential to contribute to closing the gender gap in sustained use of agricultural technologies. We therefore need to be more intentional about women's participation, decision making and agency in development interventions if we are to achieve greater impacts in sustained use of agricultural technologies towards better livelihoods

The Effect of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures on Uganda’s Fish Exports: A gravity model approach

This paper examined the effects of Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures on Uganda’s fish exports. The study used a gravity model variant that accounts for selection bias (decision to trade) and panel data from 28 countries covering the period between 2001 and 2018. The results revealed that microbiological and parasitic contamination have a negative effect on fish exports while certification about absence of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) has an opposite effect. From a policymaker’s perspective, there is need to consider strict legislation concerning the GMO Bill to guarantee the safety of food items including fish. This is would increase overseas consumers’ confidence in Uganda’s fish products, hence increasing exports. Concerning microbiological and parasitic contamination, there is need to invest in safe production and processing measures given that the country is now expanding the fisheries production by involving smallholder farmers. This would present an opportunity for fish farmers to participate in lucrative fish export markets

The Effect of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures on Uganda’s Fish Exports: A gravity model approach

This paper examined the effects of Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures on Uganda’s fish exports. The study used a gravity model variant that accounts for selection bias (decision to trade) and panel data from 28 countries covering the period between 2001 and 2018. The results revealed that microbiological and parasitic contamination have a negative effect on fish exports while certification about absence of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) has an opposite effect. From a policymaker’s perspective, there is need to consider strict legislation concerning the GMO Bill to guarantee the safety of food items including fish. This is would increase overseas consumers’ confidence in Uganda’s fish products, hence increasing exports. Concerning microbiological and parasitic contamination, there is need to invest in safe production and processing measures given that the country is now expanding the fisheries production by involving smallholder farmers. This would present an opportunity for fish farmers to participate in lucrative fish export markets

Scaling Smallholder Farmer Empowerment: Lessons from the Lifelong Learning Program in Uganda

An evaluation study of the Lifelong Learning for Farmers (L3F) program was undertaken in two sites; in the central and northern regions of Uganda. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to measure the impact of the program on crop and household income, as well as the empowerment levels of its participants. The two sites had differences not only in geographical location but in historical background and implementation of the program, which may have influenced the livelihood outcomes. Despite these differences, the results of the study confirm the potential of the L3F approach to raise participants’ crop and household income relative to non-L3F counterparts, significantly so for women participants. There is also sufficient evidence to confirm that L3F positively contributes to farmer empowerment, and, subsequently, their livelihood. The paper draws lessons for scaling the empowerment process using the lifelong learning for farmers’ model in Uganda