Factors influencing common bean profitability: the case of smallholder farmers in Kabonera Sub-County, Masaka District

Abstract

Common bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L) is an important food source in Uganda and a major source of dietary protein. Many farmers in Masaka district engaged in common beans production for both food security and commercial purposes. The major objective of the study was to assess factors influencing common bean profitability in Kabonera sub-county, Masaka district. Linear Regression model was used to analyze socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the respondents. Gross Margin Analysis Approach was used to analyze the gross margin of beans realized by smallholder farmers in Kabonera sub-county, Masaka district. The results show that all farmers benefited from the beans enterprise being that every respondent was able to attain a Gross Profit Margin percentage between 68% to 99% which indicates that common bean growing in Kabonera sub-county is profitable and contributes significantly to creating income and employment states of farmers in the study area. Linear regression results indicate that Age, Household size and Farm size had a significant influence on profitability of common bean in the study area. The study recommends that the government should continue providing extension services to smallholder farmers in order to introduce them to modern farming technologies.