Smallholder farmer assets, extension and marketing in Uganda

Abstract

<p>The study was initiated to understand how asset building, combined with appropriate extension services, can enable smallholder farmers to address marketing problems. Interviews were conducted in 2009 with 317 farm households in Kamuli district, Eastern Uganda, who were participants in a sustainable rural livelihoods program, led by an indigenous non-governmental organization with support from Ugandan and U.S. universities. Training and support provided opportunities to improve production of crops and livestock, income, nutrition and well-being. Key research questions are: (i) How is the level of smallholders' assets associated with access to extension services? (ii) What influence do assets and extension services have on smallholders' market performance? The analytic model consists of three major concepts: assets, extension services, and market sales in 2009. We found no bias in provision of extension services according to the level of material assets of households participating in the development assistance program. The association of extension services with market sales (income from crop and livestock sales) is not statistically significant. The chi-square tests and the results of logistic regression revealed positive associations between income from sale of crops and livestock and assets but not extension service frequency.</p>