The effect of post harvest losses on profitability among maize farmers in Butambala district.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of post-harvest losses on the profitability levels of smallholder maize farmers in Butambala district. The specific objectives were i) to characterize the maize farmers in Butambala district ii) to determine the extent of post-harvest losses in maize in Butambala district and iii) to determine the effect of post-harvest losses on profitability among smallholder maize farmers in Butambala district. The study applied a cross-sectional design utilizing quantitative approach to collect data from a sample size of 80 maize farmers using questionnaires. Findings revealed that majority (71.3%) of respondents were male with an average age of 46 years. The study findings also revealed that slightly less than half (45%) of the respondents were married and allocated 2.70 acres of land to maize production. Respondents also reported cultivating other crops on 3.35 acres of land. The post-harvest loss rate of maize in Butambala district was 5.3% and majority (72.5%) maize farmers reported poor storage facilities as the main cause of post-harvest losses. Regression results revealed that loss during transportation had a statistically significant effect on profitability of maize in Butambala district (β=0.242, p = 0.043) at 5% level of significance. In conclusion, the study revealed that maize farming in Butambala district faces profitability challenges, largely due to the negative impact of post-harvest losses therefore it is recommended that training and awareness campaigns should be intensified to improve farmers’ knowledge on best practices in harvesting, drying, and storage.