How the timing and location of video shows influence learning among rice farmers in Uganda

Videos have the potential of enhancing learning among smallholder farmers. The study intended to establish whether timing and location of video shows influence learning among rice farmers in Kamwenge district, Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 48 focus group participants; 100 individual video participants and 16 key informants. Geographical Positioning System (GPS) mapping was used to establish the video catchment areas and distribution of video participants. Farmers approved the video for providing timely, useful and reliable information and bringing extension service providers closer to the farming communities. Majority (94%) of the farmers said that video provided useful information that fostered change in rice production practices and technologies. A one sample T-test indicated that the timing and location of video events are significant in influencing learning among farmers particularly by women, elderly and distant farmers. The implication is that locating video shows far away and running them late at night seriously compromised involvement by females, elderly and distant people. Thus, modalities suggested by farmers need to focus on adjusting the timing of video shows and ensuring rotational operational of videos in the respective villages or parishes purposely to reach out to the elderly, distant and women farmers.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (2): 77-81, December, 201

Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Participation in Rice Value Chains in Uganda

This study explored the key determinants of smallholder farmers’ participation in the One Stop Centre Farmer Association (OSCA) rice value chains in Uganda. Data were collected from 98 respondents in Luwero and Bugiri districts using focus group discussions and 20 key informant interviews, and analysed with NVIVO software. The findings indicated that style of leadership, trust, cohesive networks and support services were key determinants of participation. Minimal participation of some members occurred due to unrealistic expectations and incompetent leadership. Further, addressing OSCA objectives can mitigate ensuing expectations. Along with this, strengthening the OSCA leadership to entrench transparency and establishment of business models for integration of value chain interventions into the wider livelihood strategies is important in order to cater for interests of all the members

Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Participation in Rice Value Chains in Uganda

This study explored the key determinants of smallholder farmers’ participation in the One Stop Centre Farmer Association (OSCA) rice value chains in Uganda. Data were collected from 98 respondents in Luwero and Bugiri districts using focus group discussions and 20 key informant interviews, and analysed with NVIVO software. The findings indicated that style of leadership, trust, cohesive networks and support services were key determinants of participation. Minimal participation of some members occurred due to unrealistic expectations and incompetent leadership. Further, addressing OSCA objectives can mitigate ensuing expectations. Along with this, strengthening the OSCA leadership to entrench transparency and establishment of business models for integration of value chain interventions into the wider livelihood strategies is important in order to cater for interests of all the members

The contestations of diversity, culture and commercialization: why tissue culture technology alone cannot solve the banana Xanthomonas wilt problem in central Uganda

Several initiatives by the Government of Uganda, Research Institutes and CGIAR centers have promoted the use of tissue culture (TC) banana technology as an effective means of providing clean planting material to reduce the spread of Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) but its uptake is still low. We examine factors that constrain uptake of tissue culture banana plant- ing materials in central Uganda by considering the cultural context of banana cultivation. Data were collected using eight focus group discussions involving 64 banana farmers and 10 key informant interviews and subjected to thematic analysis. Results showed that banana cultivars in the study communities were important for food, cultural practices and medicine. Cultivars supplied through TC were based on commercial considerations focusing on market value and household income and insufficient attention was given to their cultural importance. Farmers regard banana from TC planting material to be incom- patible with their tastes and preferences for traditional food and drinks, culture and medicine. Furthermore, the plantlets are perceived as complicated to use, and farmers report requiring more knowledge and information on how to plant and maintain the plantlets on-farm. In these aspects, TC planting material does not align with cultural values linked to societal welfare. Future efforts aimed at controlling pests and diseases would benefit from more location-specific and holistic approaches that integrate cultural dimensions alongside planting material hygiene, quality and vigor

Proceedings of an Inception Workshop for AHI-PAAP project 'Going to Scale : Enhancing the Adaptive Management Capacities of Rural Communities for Sustainable Land Management in the Highlands of Eastern Africa'

Meeting: Inception Workshop on Scaling Up INRM Innovations Highlands of Eastern Africa, Entebbe, UG (March 2009)In an inception workshop, partners come with issues that they wish clarified; the workshop gave space to allow otherwise contentious issues to be discussed towards a common understanding. The project aims to identify and promote appropriate strategies to accelerate the uptake of successful natural resources management innovations (NRM technologies, institutional options, approaches and tools) that have been tested in pilot sites, by farmers over wider geographic areas in Uganda and Ethiopia. Where NRM research interventions are successful, impacts tend to be limited to small numbers of farmers. Significant contribution to rural livelihoods requires accelerated uptake and scaling up of NRM innovation

How do youth innovate to make agriculture gainful? Challenges and youth entrepreneurs in mid-western Uganda

The global population is expected to increase to 9 billion by 2050, with the youth accounting for 14 per cent of this total. While the world's youth population is expected to grow, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for youth, particularly those living in low and middle-income countries remain limited, poorly remunerated and of poor quality. The Ugandan population, in particular, is largely comprised of a high youthful population with 78 percent below the age of thirty. Evidence reveals that youth engagement in agriculture is declining, and in recognition of the agricultural sector's potential to serve as a source of livelihood opportunities, this study assesses the factors impeding youth engagement and the drivers of innovation among the youth engaged in agricultural enterprises in Mid-Western Uganda. Anchoring in the Agricultural Innovation System (AIS), cross-sectional survey and case study research designs were employed to establish the innovativeness of youth, and the factors impeding engagement in agricultural enterprises from the youth's perspective. A pairwise ranking of the factors was also independently done. The findings reveal that the significant factors restraining youth engagement in agricultural enterprises as enhancing soil productivity, access to relevant technical knowledge and information, and access to land for production. The major innovations for successful youth engagement in agriculture are irrigation to reduce risks of dependence on rain, mechanization to reduce labour struggle, and market linkages. The case studies' innovation index portrays a high potential of innovativeness of youth to revolutionize and make agriculture gainful and attractive to the youth. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 12(1): 39-44, June 202

Determinants of sustainable innovation performance by smallholder dairy farmers in Malawi

The smallholder dairy farmer’s performance and ability to improve productivity for increased incomes, is driven by their level of innovativeness. Knowledge on the nature, degree and frequency of innovations provide opportunities for supporting the competitive advantages of smallholder dairy farmers to sustainably break away from the poverty cycle. Little attention has been given to measuring the performance and drivers of innovation for improvement of smallholder dairying in Malawi. Without understanding innovation, it is difficult to make policies and provide targeted, impactful support to smallholder farmers. This study is based on a cross sectional survey of 193 smallholder farmers in Lilongwe and Blantyre milk shed areas of Malawi. Innovation indices were computed to measure the innovation performance and further analysed to determine the drivers and barriers of innovations. Four categories of innovations namely; feeding, breeding, market, and animal health innovations are presented. The innovation index for the smallholder farmers was less than half (0.37) which is relatively lower in comparison to developed industries. The key driver was access to credit along with training, access to information and networking. For efficient and sustainable management of innovations, clear policies should be put in place to ensure formal structures for supporting continuity of innovations through enhancements in social networking among the farmers and cost effective mechanisms for accessing quality inputs

How do youth innovate to make agriculture gainful? Challenges and youth entrepreneurs in mid-western Uganda

The global population is expected to increase to 9 billion by 2050, with the youth accounting for 14 per cent of this total. While the world's youth population is expected to grow, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for youth, particularly those living in low and middle-income countries remain limited, poorly remunerated and of poor quality. The Ugandan population, in particular, is largely comprised of a high youthful population with 78 percent below the age of thirty. Evidence reveals that youth engagement in agriculture is declining, and in recognition of the agricultural sector's potential to serve as a source of livelihood opportunities, this study assesses the factors impeding youth engagement and the drivers of innovation among the youth engaged in agricultural enterprises in Mid-Western Uganda. Anchoring in the Agricultural Innovation System (AIS), cross-sectional survey and case study research designs were employed to establish the innovativeness of youth, and the factors impeding engagement in agricultural enterprises from the youth's perspective. A pairwise ranking of the factors was also independently done. The findings reveal that the significant factors restraining youth engagement in agricultural enterprises as enhancing soil productivity, access to relevant technical knowledge and information, and access to land for production. The major innovations for successful youth engagement in agriculture are irrigation to reduce risks of dependence on rain, mechanization to reduce labour struggle, and market linkages. The case studies' innovation index portrays a high potential of innovativeness of youth to revolutionize and make agriculture gainful and attractive to the youth

How the timing and location of video shows influence learning among rice farmers in Uganda

Videos have the potential of enhancing learning among smallholder farmers. The study intended to establish whether timing and location of video shows influence learning among rice farmers in Kamwenge district, Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 48 focus group participants; 100 individual video participants and 16 key informants. Geographical Positioning System (GPS) mapping was used to establish the video catchment areas and distribution of video participants. Farmers approved the video for providing timely, useful and reliable information and bringing extension service providers closer to the farming communities. Majority (94%) of the farmers said that video provided useful information that fostered change in rice production practices and technologies. A one sample T-test indicated that the timing and location of video events are significant in influencing learning among farmers particularly by women, elderly and distant farmers. The implication is that locating video shows far away and running them late at night seriously compromised involvement by females, elderly and distant people. Thus, modalities suggested by farmers need to focus on adjusting the timing of video shows and ensuring rotational operational of videos in the respective villages or parishes purposely to reach out to the elderly, distant and women farmers.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (2): 77-81, December, 201