Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Vol. 4(5), pp. 075-082, August 2015 ISSN 2327-3151 ©2015 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determinants of participation of smallholder farmers in marketing of grain amaranth in Kamuli District, Uganda

S. Namazzi¹*, W. Ekere², F.B. Kyazze³ and F. Bareeba⁴

¹National Semi-arid Resources Research Institute, Serere, P.O.BOX Private Bag, Soroti, Uganda.

²Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University Kampala, P.O.BOX.7062, Kampala, Uganda.

³Department of Extension and Innovation Studies, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University Kampala, P.O.BOX.7062, Kampala, Uganda.

⁴Department of Crop Production, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University Kampala, P.O.BOX.7062, Kampala, Uganda.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ndagire.1984@gmail.com.

Accepted 25 August, 2015

Abstract

Grain amaranth plays an important role in improving household nutritional and economic status. Grain amaranth is still a new crop in Uganda’s farming system, after being introduced by Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns in 2005 to curb malnutrition in Kamuli district. Production and consumption of the crop is still limited mainly due to lack of market; this has limited the purpose of production to domestic consumption with no incentive of producing a marketable surplus. A cross sectional study was conducted in Kamuli district to assess the determinants of small holder participation in grain amaranth marketing. A total of 150 grain amaranth farmers obtained through a multistage sampling technique, constituted the study sample. The decision to participate in grain amaranth marketing was positively influenced by gender of household head, education levels of the household head, grain amaranth yield, selling price, and membership in a farmer group. The results further reveal that the education status of the household head and the quantity of grain yield positively influenced households to sell more grain amaranth. Yield improvements are critical if increased market participation is to be realized. Therefore, research efforts should be directed towards generation and dissemination of grain amaranth varieties that will determine participation of smallholder farmers in Uganda.

Key words: Grain amaranth, small holder farmers, market participation.