Assessing the adoption of recommended farm practices and proportion of output marketed by small-scale irish potato farmers in Rubanda district.

Abstract

To determine factors influencing the adoption of recommended farm practices and proportion of produce marketed in Hamurwa Sub County, Rubanda District. The study was carried out to assess the influence of social economic factors on produce marketed and adoption of recommended farm practices. The cross sectional design was used to collect information and a purposive sampling method was deployed to select 40 adopters and 40 non adopters of the farming practices. A descriptive statistics, t-test and regression analysis techniques were used to analyse the study. The results from frequency distribution table, showed that out of the 80 households that were interviewed, female farmers were less than males, the mean age of the farmers was 43.5 years, and the mean number of years spent in school by farmers was 8years. The average land size owned by farmers was 3.8 acres, where the large allocation of land to crop cultivation by households (3acres). The majority of farmers grow Irish potato for both sale and food and few farmers grow for only home consumption. The farmers who earned lower monthly income did not adopt recommended farm practices compared to farmers who earned more average monthly income. The farmers who have less workers on farm did not adopt the recommended farm practices compared to farmers with more workers who adopted the farming practices. Majority of farmers own stores, while a few did not own stores, which compromises post-harvest handling of the produce. The proportion of output marketed was regressed against the selected variables. The level of education of farmers and the distance to the district town were significant, implying that they affect proportion of Irish potato that was marketed. The farmers faced three main challenges in the production stage. The highest ranked challenge was pests and diseases, followed by limited land and weather problems respectively. There is a need for Irish potato farmers in Rubanda District to establish an Irish potato cooperative to help them in bargaining power, and to access Irish potato processing facilities and equipment as a group at low cost. But the government should also help men access credit service at a low-interest rate and with no collaterals and providing them with equipment used Irish potato value addition.