Browsing by Author "Rebecca Kalibwani"

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Adoption of Black Plastic Mulch as a Coping Strategy to Water Conservation Among Vegetable Farmers in Kisoro Municipality, Kisoro District
(Science Publishing Group, 2024) Harriet Nyiramutuzo; Edward Ssemakula; Rebecca Kalibwani
The study was about the adoption of black plastic mulches as a copying strategy to water conservation among smallholder vegetable farmers in Kisoro Municipality, Kisoro district. Farmers in Kisoro District have increasingly adopted black plastic mulch to address these agricultural challenges. The use of black plastic mulch in this region helps in conserving soil moisture, controlling weeds, and enhancing crop yields. It was guided by three specific objectives which were to; establish the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder vegetable farmers, establish the knowledge level on the benefits of black plastic mulch among smallholder vegetable farmers and examine the factors influencing farmer’s decision to adopt black plastic mulch as a coping strategy to water conservation. The study employed a cross-sectional study design that used both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study used a sample size of 300. The study used questionnaires and interview guide to collect data. The data collected was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The results revealed that land ownership was a positive and significant factor at (sig. 0.000**), source of income at (sig.0.001*), credit accessibility at (sig.0.002**) and knowledge on use of black plastic mulches at (sig. 0.000**) The study concluded that vegetable farmers were characterized in terms of gender, age, farm size, marital status and level of education. The study also concluded that there was adequate knowledge level on the benefits of black plastic mulch among smallholder vegetable farmers. Such as; leads to higher yields and improved quality of vegetables, increase the growth rate of vegetables, reduce the risk of root damage, weed suppression, moisture conservation and contribute to soil health and protect the soil from wind and water erosion. The study finally concluded that there were significant and non-significant factors influencing farmer’s decision to adopt black plastic mulch as a coping strategy to water conservation among smallholder vegetable farmers which included; land ownership, limited extension training, source of income, knowledge on use of black plastic mulches and credit accessibility and non-significant ones were; un-availability of labour, infrastructure development, level of education, price of black plastic mulch and farm size.
Analysis of the Influence of Forms of Urban Agriculture on the Socio- Economic Status of the Farmers in Kampala and Mbarara Cities, Uganda
(International License East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology, 2024) Leonard Ninsheka; Edward Ssemakula; Christopher Tiyo; Rebecca Kalibwani; Wilson Mugizi
The study analysed the influence of the forms and drivers of urban agriculture on the socio-economic status of farmers in Kampala and Mbarara cities in Uganda. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design using multiple methods of data collection. A multistage cluster sampling technique involving simple random sampling to get both primary and secondary sampling units, snowball to get target respondents and purposive sampling for key informants and focus group members was used. Data were collected using social survey questionnaires for households, focus group discussions checklist (FGDs), key informant interview guides and observations, from a sample of 384 respondents. The study found a strong association between forms of urban agriculture and the socioeconomic status of the urban farmers in Kampala and Mbarara Cities. Subsistence forms (backyard, roadside and rooftop gardens), commercial forms (zero grazing, poultry, fish farms and crop farms), and tourist forms (demonstration sites) had a significant influence on household food and income security of urban farmers. The study established the lack of land, improved technologies and training as major obstacles and recommended the establishment of community networks, availing subsidies and credit and recruitment of extension personnel as interventions to help urban farmers.
Analysis of the Influence of Forms of Urban Agriculture on the Socio- Economic Status of the Farmers in Kampala and Mbarara Cities, Uganda
(East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology, 2024) NINSHEKA LEONARD; Edward Ssemakula; Christopher Tiyo; Rebecca Kalibwani; Wilson Mugizi2
The study analysed the influence of the forms and drivers of urban agriculture on the socio-economic status of farmers in Kampala and Mbarara cities in Uganda. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design using multiple methods of data collection. A multistage cluster sampling technique involving simple random sampling to get both primary and secondary sampling units, snowball to get target respondents and purposive sampling for key informants and focus group members was used. Data were collected using social survey questionnaires for households, focus group discussions checklist (FGDs), key informant interview guides and observations, from a sample of 384 respondents. The study found a strong association between forms of urban agriculture and the socioeconomic status of the urban farmers in Kampala and Mbarara Cities. Subsistence forms (backyard, roadside and rooftop gardens), commercial forms (zero grazing, poultry, fish farms and crop farms), and tourist forms (demonstration sites) had a significant influence on household food and income security of urban farmers. The study established the lack of land, improved technologies and training as major obstacles and recommended the establishment of community networks, availing subsidies and credit and recruitment of extension personnel as interventions to help urban farmers.
Rural Electrification and Maize Value Addition in Mpumudde Sub-County, Lyantonde District
(International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 2024) Sulaiman Ssegilinya; Rebecca Kalibwani; Gershom Nuwemuhwezi
The study was about rural electrification on maize value addition in Mpumunde Sub-County, Lyantonde District. The study specific objectives were to; characterize maize value addition actors benefiting from rural electrification, identify factors limiting farmers from participating in maize value addition other than electrification, assess the contribution of rural electrification towards adding value to maize. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design and primary data was collected from 200 respondents. The data was analysed using SPSS version 22.0. The study concluded that maize value addition actors who benefited from rural electrification were characterized by low level of education that is average number of years in school being six; limited size of land with average of 4 acres and majority had productive age with an average of aged 38. The study also concluded that there were factors limiting farmers from participating in maize value addition other than electrification which were; limited training on value addition was significant at (p=.027). Skills and experience at (p=.021), Credit services/financing at (p=.003). Market availability at (p=.026). Materials and equipments to use at p= (.029). Level of education and storage facilities were seen non-significant at 5% level of significance with p-values (p=.312; p=.261). The final conclusion was that maize value adders agreed that the rural electrification connection to maize milling centers mostly were more efficient in their operations than the non-connected milling centers. They had improved quality value added products, efficiency in processing activities, operated for long hours and had faster processes. The study recommends that, there is a need for the government to link with the donors like World Bank who have already acknowledged through their own studies that there should be a need for massive injection of funds to support the rural electrification programme. There should be more grace period for the rural people in terms of repayment period since they are not used to the urban living style where deadlines on payment attract severe action like total disconnection. Maize value adders should be subsidized with value addition equipments at a fair price to help them sustain production of better quality value added products. The study recommends that village saving cooperative societies limited render soft and affordable loans at low interest rate to help farmers finance their value addition activities and ensure sustainability of quality value added products