Assessing socio-economic and institutional factors affecting matooke productivity among smallholder farmers in Western Uganda: A case study of Isingiro District

Abstract

The study concentrated on identifying both positive and negative socio-economic and institutional factors affecting the productivity of matooke farming among smallholder farmers in Isingiro district, as well as measures to improve productivity of matooke farming among smallholder farmers in Isingiro district. The study was carried out for a period of 4 months starting with march and ending with June as required by the university examination board The study design used a cross sectional design that considered both qualitative and quantitative techniques to achieve its objectives All the respondents used for this study were randomly selected from different areas within Isingiro district so as to avoid obtaining biased and unbalanced data Findings of the study revealed that there were many positive socio-economic and institutional factors affecting productivity of matooke farming among smallholder farmers in Isingiro district which included but not limited to; Matooke farming in Isingiro district was basically a generational farming practice for both home consumption and commercial purposes with a marginal number of them specializing in matooke farming for commercial purposes; a supportive environment with many more youth being encouraged to practice matooke farming; Demand for matooke and willingness of the farmers to supply; the existence and ownership of sizeable land per family and availability of less costly family labour to manage and maintain their plantations irrespective of their sizes. Negative socio-economic and institutional factors affecting productivity of matooke farming among smallholder farmers in Isingiro district included but not limited to; limited land that could not to match the peoples need to expand matooke farming; minimal profits were being earned from matooke sales; and limited government.

The study recommends that government needs to improve its regulation of prices, support of pest control, and to improve infrastructure. With this at hand, farmers may be encouraged to maximize their involvement in producing matooke for commercial purposes.