Evaluation of factors influencing value addition by maize traders in Kabwoya Sub-County, Hoima District

Abstract

The study was designed is to evaluate the factors influencing value addition by maize traders in Kabwoya sub-county Hoima district. The objective of this study were; to characterize maize traders in Kabwoya sub-county Hoima district, to determine the factors influencing traders decision to add value to the maize Data collected through questionnaire and Interview guides was corded and then, entered into the computer, coded, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS versions 16.0 for quantitative analysis. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics. in Kabwoya sub-county Hoima district, to examine the existing value addition systems among maize traders in Kabwoya sub-county Hoima district. The study was conducted in Kabwoya which is approximately 46 kilometers (29 miles), by road, south-west of Hoima, the site of the district headquarters and the nearest large town. Kabwoya is also approximately 47 kilometers (29 mi), by road, north-east of Kagadi in neighboring Kagadi District, on the Kyenjojo–Kabwoya Road. The coordinates of Kabwoya are 1°14'43.0"N, 31°04'59.0"E (Latitude: 1.245278; Longitude: 31.083056). The sample size for the study was obtained from the survey population of 80 number of maize traders where by 40 are processors and 40 are non-processors in Kabwoya sub county, Hoima district. Data collected through questionnaire and Interview guides was corded and then, entered into the computer, coded, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS versions 16.0 for quantitative analysis. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings show that majority of the maize traders in Kabwoya sub-county Hoima District were males (67.5%). Moreover, majority of the maize traders in this study were married (68.8%). Furthermore, the average age of maize traders in Kabwoya sub-county Hoima District is 32.98% years and the average number of years that maize traders in Kabwoya sub-county Hoima District spent at school is 32.98% years. The study recommended that the government of Uganda should encourage the financial institutions to reduce on their interest rates on borrowing. The local government should also provide extension workers to different parts of Hoima District especially Kabwoya Sub-County.