Adoption of improved onion production package by smallholder farmers in Gamogo sub-county Kapchorwa district.

Abstract

The study of assessment of the factors influencing the Adoption of improved onion production package in Gamogo sub-county kapchorwa district. The study was guided by specific research objectives which included assessing the level of onion production, finding out the improved onion production package practiced by farmers, determining the factors for low adoption of improved onion production packages and establishing the strategies for adoption of improved onion production packages in Gamogo Sub-County Kapchorwa District. The study used cross sectional design and a case study was Gamogo Sub-County Kapchorwa District. To achieve the set objectives, the study used purposive sampling and simple random sampling in sample selection. A sample of 63 respondents participated in study. Farmers filled the questionnaires because they were in constant engagement and introduction letter was obtained from the faculty of science and education introducing the researcher to the field of research. The study revealed information on growing onions on the farm like growing Bombay red, red creole, planted malkam brown, produce was increasing in some areas and produce were decreasing in some areas, and the age influences growing of onions. In addition, the findings revealed that proper application of the recommended rate is important to obtain the required yield, as far as fertilizer use is concerned, onion growers in the study areas are aware of the need for using fertilizer in their onion production, and growing onion needs men because they can move to get the information on how to grow it better. The findings revealed that there are advantages of using onion production package, high production per hectare, high price/kg, market demand, shortage of seed, shortage of fertilizers, shortage of labour, storage problems, high costs of inputs. Besides, respondents made use of mass media, having access to credit, having access to market, getting guidance from the extension agent, having training on the improved package, employed on farms which practice them is yet another strategy. In conclusion, it was found out that farmers receive extension service annually, and plant onions on their farms. The researcher recommends that extension workers should offer services to farmers at regular interval, government should allocate more funding, and farmers should seriously put in practice what the extension workers tell them.