Factors influencing farmers' decision to add value to irish potatoes in Muko Sub-County, Rubanda District

Abstract

The objective of the study was to identify the factors that influence farmers’ decision to add value on Irish potatoes. Primary data was used in this study and it was collected using a questionnaire from 96 respondents who were Irish potato farmers in Muko Sub-county, Rubanda district. Data analysis was done using frequency distribution tables, Pearson chi square test for independence and logistic regression method. Findings indicated that more than half of the farmers (55.6%) who participated in the survey were male compared to the female counterparts who accounted for 44.4% with the majority (44.4%) aged 18-25 years. Most of the farmers (37.4%) were in households with 5-6 members. Furthermore, findings showed that men dominated all the Irish Potato processing activities and most of the farmers (88.4%) processed Irish potatoes into chips/crisps, 7.2% made Irish potato flour and 4.3% made Irish potato juice. Under bivariate analysis, gender, education level, access to information about value addition, possession of processing equipment and genetic type of Irish potatoes tested as factors that influence farmers’ decision to add value on Irish potatoes were investigated. Findings showed that they all had an association with Irish potato value addition however only education level, possession of processing equipment and genetic type of Irish potatoes were found to have a significant effect. Results from multivariate analysis indicated that education level, growing different genetic types and possession of processing equipment significantly influenced farmers’ decision to add value on Irish Potatoes implying farmers’ decision to add value on Irish potatoes depends on one’s level of education, possession of processing equipment and genetic types of Irish potato. From the findings, the following recommendations can be made; There is still need for extension of trainings about value addition to farmers to equip them with the necessarily skills in processing. Trainings accompanied with their level of education will help them to boost value addition. Due to difficulties in accessing affordable credit to use in value addition by farmers, there is need for government to extend some credit to these farmers such that can borrow at reduced interest rates and be able to boost their production and value addition. There is need for policy makers to subsidize on the costs of processing equipment such that farmers can easily access them at cheaper prices.