Determinants of watermelon production across small scale farmers in Kityerera Sub-County, Mayuge District.

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the determinants of watermelon production across small scale farmers in Kityererasub county, Mayugedistrict with the objectives being toestablish the social and demographic characteristics of watermelon small scale farmers, to determine the factors affecting watermelon production among small scale farmers andto determine the gross margins of small scale farmers in Kityerera sub-county Mayuge district.Primary data using structured questionnaires was collected from 80 farmers growing watermelon using Random sampling as a sampling technique. Also some secondary data was used from written literature liketextbooks, journals among others. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS for descriptive statistics, frequencies and linear regression among others. Data was presented inform of tables and figuresfor easy interpretation and generation of findings and conclusions. Results indicated that most of the farmers are youth and are capable of adopting new innovations, most of them were of a male gender married and with no academic qualification that dominated the watermelon production in the study area. Also most of farmers on average earn5 million and the average gross margin was 88.94% implying that the costs of production were viable because they give higher returns.Also land size, education level, revenue earned were positive and significantly related to the quantity of watermelon producedwhile total input costs and age of the respondents were insignificant for the study. Regular spraying, provision of credit facilities to the rural farmers, formation of cooperatives and provision of subsidies to farmers were some of the recommendations for profitable watermelon production in the study.