Comparative Analysis of Farmer Organisation for Value Chain Development in Israel’s Agriculture and the Maize Value Chain in Kamwenge District

Abstract

This study a comparative study between farmer organization for value chain development in Israel’s agriculture sector and the maize value chain in Kamwenge District, Western Uganda. It was guided by three objectives; to examine farmer organisation in Israel’s agricultural sector, identify the stages and challenges of the maize value chain in Kamwenge, and then draw lessons from farmer organisation for value chain development in Israel agriculture sector that can enhance the maize value chain in Kamwenge district. The study was designed in two parts; first, a review of documents to discuss farmer organisation in Israel is supplemented by observations on four Israeli farms that were made in 2014-2015 during Agro-studies Internship in Israel. Secondly acrossectional study of 190 respondents in Kamwenge district. The respondents included 160 maize farmers, 20 traders and 10 millers. Data was collected using questionnaires and analysed qualitatively when comparing farmer organisation for value chain development in Israel and Kamwenge and descriptively using SPSS. The study found out that in Israel farmers were organised using cooperative principles, right from production at community level (kibbutz) through regional level to final consumption and export at national level. Farmers in Israel receive government social support; free child education, medical care and accommodation. Child education is tailored to imparting skills for agricultural production and development. Government provides organised input supply for each enterprise of kibbutz choice, with advanced technologies and services along the value chain.