Socio economic factors for orange fleshed sweet potato adoption in the small holder farming sector Northern

Abstract

Background: The introduction of the improved Orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) into the smallholder farming sector was predicated on the premise that the types are important due to their nutritional benefits, are suitable for the farming system, and will be readily adopted by the farmers. However, there are numerous other issues, some of which are under the farmers' control and others of which are not, that may hinder the adoption of this technique. Objective: Examine the socioeconomic elements that influence the adoption of orange fleshed sweet potato in northern Uganda's small holder farming sector. Methods: This cross-sectional community-based study was done among 399 farmers in northern Uganda. Data was collected using s semi structured questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to assess socioeconomic factors associated with adoption of OFSP varieties, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of the 399 farmers, 383 fully participated in the study. Majority 227(73.9%) were female, 134(43.6%) aged 36 to 59 years, and 228(74.8%) married. The adoption rate of orange fleshed sweet potato variants was 21.5% and was associated with getting information for agricultural extension workers (AOR: 4.087, 95% CI: 1.354, 12.336, p=0.012), being in a community group (AOR: 2.065, 95% CI: 1.105, 3.860, p=0.023), keeping records (AOR: 0.324, 95% CI: 0.144, 0.727, p=0.006), and not engaging in other activities (AOR: 2.072, 95% CI: 1.121, 3.828, p=0.020). Most of the farmers 75(98.7%) were market vendors, 64(84.2%) sell products in form of tubers, and 17(22.4%) sell to individual customers. Conclusion: The present study indicates that one in five of small-scale farmers in northern Uganda practice OFSP cultivation. The study also indicates that farmers practiced OFSP farming for home consumption using local technologies and practices that are easily accessed to them. These results necessitatecontinuous provision of more information to scale up and sustain production and consumption of the OFSP. Keywords: adoption,farmer, multiplication, orange fleshed sweet potatoes