Irine Akite

Rice value chain upgrading is regarded as an essential precursor for improving smallholder farmers’ access to profitable markets. However, key drivers of their participation in upgrading strategies haven’t been fully established. This study evaluated different upgrading strategies in the rice value chain in terms of profitability and market participation. The study employed a cross-sectional survey of 442 randomly selected rice farmers in northern Uganda using a structured questionnaire while ordered and binary logit models were used for analysis. Our results revealed that the main motivational factors for upgrading was the desire for better markets and higher profits. Further, location, income, credit access, contract, group and individual marketing were confirmed as key ingredients of upgrading. The study recommended that efforts should be directed toward developing stronger coordination through farmers’/actors’ associations coupled with infrastructural and affordable finance systems development. This would empower farmers to upgrade and access profitable markets for economic transformation.

This study aimed at assessing how farmers’ access to agricultural extension is linked to farmers’ choice of extension service providers, and the crops and livestock activities engaged in at the far...

The study was conducted to explore gender dimensions in the local chicken value chain in northern Uganda. Specifically, it focused on characterizing local chicken value chain actors, ascertaining level and determinants of gender participation as well as relationships between gender, access and control over income from local chicken enterprises. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires administered in a cross-sectional survey of 200 randomly selected local chicken value chain actors. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 10 and StataSE 13 software from which simplified gross margins, descriptive statistics, correlations and a Logit regression model were estimated. Results revealed that majority of value chain actors were aged 20–48 years and males were dominant across most segments in the value chain. Men participated more in input supply, house construction, marketing and barbequing while women participated in production and stewing local chickens. Among actors, processors (UGX 1,911,274) and farmers (UGX 159,691) had the highest and least annual gross margin respectively. The Logit model revealed that age, education level, marital status and income control positively influenced (Pr = 0.00) gender participation. Men had more control over income than women. An engendered innovation platform could be established for training and empowerment of local chicken value chain actors.