Factors affecting pineapple productivity in Kayunga district

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine factors that influence pineapple production in Kayunga. A quantitative study was conducted using a questionnaire administered to a conveniently selected sample of 100 farmers from Kangulumira Sub-county. Frequency distribution, correlation tests and linear regression were used to analyze data in EXCEL. From the study findings, slightly more than half attended up to secondary level of education (56%) and half of the respondents (51%) were aged between 30 and 50. In bivariate analysis, correlation was used and gender of the farmer, no access to credit, no access to extension services and land under cultivation were selected for the next stage of analysis at 95% confidence level (|ρ|>0.25). In the linear regression, Pineapple production highly depended on farmer’s gender, land size, no access to extension services and no access credit services at 95% confidence level. Gender of the famer had a positive coefficient of 12.65 indicating that a change from a female headed household to the male headed household increased the level of production by 12.6 bags (p <0.05). Land size under cultivation also had a positive coefficient 1.959 which indicated if the pineapple plantation is increased by one acre of land, then the level of production would increase by 1.95 bags (p <0.05). A negative coefficient on the no access to credit indicated that a farmer having no access to credit services reduced the level of production by 11 bags (p <0.05). Furthermore, a farmer having no access to extension services reduced the level of production by 10 bags (p <0.05). Based on results of analysis, it is deemed that in an effort to increase pineapple production in Kayunga, a number of coordinated measures ought to be considered including: - Increasing access to loans for farmers which help the farmers facilitate and expand their farms which in return increases their production. Farmers need to gain more to access land which can be utilized for pineapple growing which in turn will increase pineapple productivity and furthermore there is a need for women to have more access to land and other relevant services.