Contributions of onion production on household income in Ntungamo district: case study of Kayonza sub-county

Abstract

This study examines the contribution of onion production to household income. It was conducted in Kayonza Sub-county, Ntungamo District. Specifically, the study intended to analyze the profitability of onion production in the study area, established the relationship between the total household income and revenue from onion production. It also identified the challenges faced by the onion farmers in the study area. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to get 140 respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Data was analyzed using STATA 13.1 version. Descriptive statistics, gross margin model, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression model were used to analyze the data The results of the study showed that, there is a very high, positive and significant relationship between household total income and revenues from onion production (p-value=0.8679). Results from the gross margin analysis indicate that onion production was the second profitable crop after coffee in the study area with a gross margin of 69%. The regression analysis indicate that farming experience, farm size, sex of the farmer and access to extension services where the only significant factors at 5% level of significance influencing onion production. The study findings also indicate that farmers are facing many challenges which include; unreliable rainfall, pest and diseases, poor prices, poor transport systems and poor quality of the onion seeds. To make onion production sustainable, it is recommended that, there must be deliberate efforts in improving access to quality seeds, and there should be provision of irrigation systems to solve the problem of little rains. Since most of the farmers are found in rural areas there is a need to improve infrastructure for easier rural transport.