Constraints to organic pineapple production in Kayunga district

Abstract

This study analyzed the factors that determine male and female farmers’ decisions to adopt organic agriculture in Kayunga district. In addition, the study aimed to identify the sources of motivations among male and female farmers towards adoption of organic farming, to identify and analyze male and female farmers’ perceptions of organic farming, and to identify the challenges faced by male and female farmers who adopt organic agriculture. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select a representative sample of 40 respondents and primary data was collected using structured questionnaires from two sub-counties of Kayunga and Kangulumira. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and probit regression. Analysis of household characteristics revealed that 70% of the respondents were adopters of organic farming while only 30% were non-adopters. Regarding access to extension, 67.86% of the adopters accessed extension services compared to only 50.0% of the non-adopters. The study established that 57.5% of the respondents had access to credit services and of these 91.67% were non-adopters of organic farming while 42.86% were adopters. The study also analyzed farmers’ perceptions of organic farming and it was found out that most of the respondents perceived organic farming as a way to produce healthy food and also increasing household income. Econometric results for the study on the factors affecting adoption of organic farming revealed access to credit, access to extension services, education level of the respondents and the gender of the respondents as the significant variables influencing the adoption of organic farming. It’s recommended that the district local government and other stakeholders like NOGAMU to put more attention on providing in-service training to extension agents to provide them with knowledge and skills on organic agriculture in order to improve quality of extension services, promote division of farm labor between men and women to ensure equitable effects of organic agriculture on gender and also support development of SACCOS to ensure easy access to credit.