socio-economic factors affecting farmer adoption of improved inputs in maize production in Serere district
Abstract
The major objective of the study was to establish the factors affecting farmer adoption of
improved input in maize production in Olio Sub County Serere District. The specific objectives
were; To examine the magnitude of maize production in Olio Sub-county Serere District, to
determine the level of awareness and adoption of improved inputs in maize production in Olio
Sub-county Serere District, to examine the factors affecting the adoption of improved inputs in
maize production in Olio Sub-county and to suggest strategies to enhance the adoption of
improved inputs in maize production in Olio Sub County.
The study employed a case study design with qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry; the
qualitative method used was observation while quantitative method used was a survey. A sample
size of 68 respondents was selected for interview. Fifty (50) respondents were randomly selected
and 18 respondents were purposively selected from the list of households at the Sub-county.
Out of the 18 respondents purposively selected ten were opinion leaders and eight were
agricultural researchers. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary
data source was from the respondents and the instruments used were, observation checklist,
questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion guide and interview guide while secondary data were
obtained from review of literature from various sources such as Text Books, Journals,
Magazines, Newspapers and Internet. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for
Social Scientists (SPSS) version 10. Two types of analyses were done; Descriptive statistics
(frequency and percentages) and inferential statistics (Chi-square, correlation and regression).
The logistic model was used to answer the general objective of the study because of its relative
mathematical simplicity and the author’s familiarity with using it.
The study found out that the improved inputs used by farmers were, improved seeds, fertilizer
and pesticides. Less than 50% of famers interviewed were found to have adopted the use of
improved inputs in maize production. Education level, land size, income level, access to
information from extension workers were Socio-economic factors affecting the adoption of
improved inputs in maize production in Serere district.
The study concludes that addressing the Socio-ecomic factors (limited access to information, low
extension to famer contact, low income levels, land size, marital status and education level)
among farmers would contribute to increase in adoption level of the use of improved inputs in
maize production in Serere district.
The study recommends that, farmers should be sensitized and trained on the use of improved
inputs, Government to subsidize the cost of fertilizer and pesticides to enable them become
affordable for farmers and famers to be encouraged to form groups such as SACCOS to enable
them buy inputs in bulk and benefit from the big discounts associated to bulk buying and to
access low interest credit for acquisition of improved inputs for yield improvement of maize.