| dc.description.abstract | This study analyzed intra-household differences in maize plot management and their effect on
household food security using data collected from a sample of 920 farmers in Kamuli District as a
case study. The data was collected in 2019 by icipe and Makerere University. The objectives of
the study were; (1) to determine the proportion of households with jointly-managed maize plots
and households with individually-managed maize plots, (2) to determine maize productivity on
jointly-managed maize plots and individually-managed maize plots, and (3) to determine and
compare food security status in households with jointly-managed maize plots and households with
individually-managed maize plots. Objectives 1 and 2 were analyzed using descriptive statistics
whereas objective 3 was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression.
Results from descriptive statistics showed that the proportion of households with jointly-managed
maize plots (42.82%) were less than households with individually-managed maize plots (57.18%).
In addition, findings revealed no significant difference between maize productivity on jointlymanaged
and individually-managed maize plots. Concerning food security, households with
jointly-managed maize plots were shown to be significantly more food secure relative to
households with individually-managed maize plots. This is because the former have a higher
household dietary diversity score (mean = 6.53, median = 7.00) than the latter (mean = 6.05,
median = 6.00). Econometric results from the Poisson regression showed that maize plot
management in households does not matter in household food security. The results however
revealed that education of spouse, access to extension by male farmers, access to extension by
female farmers, and the size of land allocated to maize significantly increase household food
security. On the other side, household head, distance to the extension office, and crop diversity
significantly reduce household food security.
It is recommended that policymakers identify and address the causes of individual maize plot
management rather than joint plot management to improve maize productivity and food security.
In addition, extension services and better education should be provided to farmers particularly
female farmers who exhibit a greater positive impact on household food security more than their
male counterparts. Furthermore, policies that encourage the cultivation of more maize in terms of
acreage should be adopted. | en_US |
