FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION OF VALUE ADDITION IN BANANA AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN RUHUMURO SUB

COUNTY, BUSHENYI DISTRICT, UGANDA

BY
NATUKWATSA PROSSY

REG.NO: 17/U/8921/PS
STUDENTS NO. 217005196
COURSE: BAGM

SUPERVISOR: Dr. STEPHEN LWASA

 Back ground
 Bananas are among the six most important staple foods in the world(FAO, 2017).

 India is the highest Banana producing country in the world followed by the chain as the

second-largest Banana produce and Uganda in the third position (FAO, 2012)

 Western Uganda is the leading producer of Banana in the country where this region

produces 68% of total Banana production in Uganda (UBOS, 2015).

 The PIBID project introduced Banana factory in Bushenyi intending to reduce losses in

terms of adding value to a Banana

 However. Farmers in Ruhumuro sub county are still slow in adopting to value addition

despite the PIBID project put in place

 Problem statement
 Banana production is vital in improving food security and increasing income among rural

farmers (Hazell & Wood, 2007)

 However, Banana marketing is still a challenge in the Ruhumuro sub-county, Bushenyi district

Uganda, due to Banana perishability and earns low prices due to the lack of value addition

 Despite the interventions from development agencies (PIBID) directed to promote Banana value

addition in the Bushenyi district, farmers have been slow in adopting Banana value addition.

 The variables that influence this behavior are not clear. If these variables are not identified and

used to improve value addition, farmers will continue to earn low incomes from their efforts.
 Objectives of the study

Main objective

The main objective of the study was to assess the factors influencing the adoption of Banana value addition

among smallholder farmers in Ruhumuro Sub County Bushenyi district, Uganda

Specific objectives

1. Characterize the smallholder banana farmers in Ruhumuro sub-county Bushenyi district, Uganda with regard
to value addition options.

2. Determine the influencers of Banana value addition among smallholder farmers in Ruhumuro sub-county
Bushenyi district, Uganda.

3. Determine the challenges faced by the smallholder farmers that add value to their Bananas in Ruhumuro sub-
county Bushenyi district, Uganda.
 Methodology
Research Design

 This study used a descriptive cross-sectional research design which was conducted
in Ruhomoro sub-county Bushenyi district, Uganda from 18th-25th January 2021.

Description of the study area

 The study was carried out in Parishes of Bugaara, Nyibingo and Burungira in
Ruhumuro sub-county Bushenyi district.

 Bushenyi because its among the leading banana producer and there a banana
factory established in this place (PIBID Project).
 Methodology cont’d
• Data collection and sources.
Two methods were used that is;
Primary data was collected through the use of questioners and observations.

Secondary data was got from text books, journals,records,internet among others.

Sampling and sample size.

The study involved use of purposive sampling on banana farmers in Ruhumuro
sub county Bushenyi district. This sample comprised of 80 respondents.
 Data Analysis
 After collecting data from the field, data was edited, coded for completeness,
and entered in a computer software the statistical package for social scientist
(SPSS) version 20 then exported to stata15 for analysis.

 Data was arranged and put in order, adding tables, figures and other statistical
requirements that necessitated in trying to answer the objectives of the study.
 Findings of the study
Table 4.1: Socio demographic characteristics of farmers.

  Combined Female Male  

Variable Mean(SD) Mean(SD) Mean(SD) P value

Age of the farmer 51.58(15.69) 50.79(15.87) 52.17(15.71) 0.7

Experience in banana production 28.88(18.17) 28.26(18.67) 29.17(17.97) 0.79

Level of education 5.91(4.08) 6(4.56) 5.84(3.74) 0.87

Household size 5.63(2.21) 5.26(2.23) 5.91(2.17) 0.19
Total land owned 4.34(3.52) 3.69(2.71) 4.82(3.98) 0.15
Area under banana 1.51(0.77) 1.42(0.65) 1.58(0.98) 0.35
Total monthly income 281376.3(349747.5) 266179.4(293564.8) 292608.7(388899.8) 0.74

Extension service visit(no) 0.98(0.83) 0.82(0.8) 1.102(0.85) 0.18

Total bunches harvested in a 58.27(42.38) 56.47(37.62) 60.65(45.93) 0.69
month
Farm group membership 1.3(0.77) 0.77(0.73) 1.244(0.8) 0.43
 Findings cont’d

Main occupation on the farmer based on sex Value addition based on sex
 Findings cont’d
• Figure 4.3: Marital status of farmers based on sex.
 Findings cont’d
Figure 4.4: Descriptive characteristics summarized in percentages.

Variables Females Males P-value

Copping Monocrop 41.18 48.89 0.4966
system%
Intercrop 58.82 51.11  
Mode of Individual 29 36  
banana sale
Collective 0 0  
%
Main source Hired 5 6 0.04
of labor%
Family 29 40  
 Figure 4.5: Probit regression analysis for influencers of banana value addition.
Banana value addition ( 1=yes 0=No)

Variables Coefficient Z P-vale

Sex -.892 1.66 0.097
Age -.009 -0.20 0.840
Land owned .039 0.45 0.654
Farmer group membership .614 1.13 0.261
Marital status .481 -1.10 0.090
Level of education Dependent variable:
.012 0.19 0.840
Banana value addition ( 1=yes 0=No)
Access to extension services .470 1.76 0.079
Source of labor .970 1.22 0.222
Distance to the main road .560 1.31 0.191
Household size 0.89 0.712 0.124
Cropping system -791 -1.81 0.070
Main occupation -.009 -0.02 0.985
Constant 2.865 1.09 0.275
 Findings cont’d
• Figure 4. 6: Barriers to value addition
Barrier Female (%) Male (%) Chi-value P-value

Lack of capital 56 44 0.7627 0.382

Lack of extension 54.5 45.5 1.0909 0.296

services
Lack of knowledge 42.86 57.14 1.1429 0.285
/skills
Lack of equipment 33.33 66.67 1.6667 0.197

Banana varieties 41.67 58.33 1.2639 0.261

No market 75 25    
 Findings cont’d
• Figure 4.7: Problems faced by farmers who add value to their banana produced.

Challenges Female (%) Male (%) Chi-value P-value

High processing cost 41.467 58.33 2.5944 0.273

No processing factory 33.33 66.67 1.4716 0.479

nearby
Lack of extension services 53.85 46.15 0.8117 0.666

Lack of knowledge about 42.86 57.14 1.9884 0.70

value addition
 Conclusions
Characterization of banana farmers.

 Out of the 80 households that were interviewed, 34 were females and 46 were males, the mean age
of the household heads was 51.58

Influencers of banana value addition.

 Banana value addition was influenced by sex of the farmer, marital status, total land owned ,
source of labor and access to extension services.

Challenges faced by farmers who add value to banana.

 Farmers who added value to their banana were faced with the problems of lack of capital, no
market for processed products and limited access to extension services.
 Recommendations
 A need for banana farmers in Ruhumuro to establish banana cooperatives to help
them in bargaining and train farmers to improve on the level of banana value
addition.

 A need to increase the number of extension workers in this area as the low
extension worker to farmer ratio.

 A need to improve local infrastructure, transport, processing facilities and

dissemination of innovative technologies about banana value addition.
Thank you so much for your time.