Assessment of profitability on different maize products among maize farmers in Namutumba sub-county in Namutumba District in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the profitability of different maize products sold by maize farmers in Namutumba sub- county, Namutumba district. This was guided by the following study objectives; to document the factors that influence farmers to sell in one form or a combination of maize products, to determine the profitability from different maize products sold by maize farmers, and to determine the marketing channel that gives farmers the highest profits or returns in Namutumba sub- county, Namutumba district. The target population were maize farmers from Kigarama, Ituba and Nakyere villages respectively from Namutumba sub- county, Namutumba district. A sample of 66 respondents were identified using a random sampling technique was used to collect primary data through the use of questionnaires that were distributed to maize farmers. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze data. The results showed that,80.3% of the maize farmers were married, 12.1% were single and 7.6% were divorced or windowed. The mean age of the respondents was 37.5 80.3% 0f the respondents were purely farmers, 10.6% were businessmen and others were 9.1% teachers. The study findings revealed that most of the farmers sell green maize, dry grain maize, maize flour and a combination of maize product forms respectively. They produce maize on a small, medium and large-scale production and most of them produce on a small scale. The study concluded that green maize was more profitable with a gross margin of UGX 2,605,343 compared to the other maize products. The study recommends that formation of strong cooperatives that are important organs in different ways such as bargaining power and collective marketing, stabilizing marketing costs in different market channels for different maize products.