The influence of value addition on income levels of maize producers in Nakalama sub-county, Iganga district.

Abstract

Value addition is a process of changing the product's value by changing its current form. Maize is an important food and income security crop that supports livelihoods of millions of small scale farmers in Uganda and this prompted the researcher to conduct a research on the influence of value addition on the income levels of maize producers in Nakalama Sub-county in lganga district. The study population was the maize producers in Nakalama Sub-county in Iganga district and a sample size of 30 farmers was selected randomly in their households. The data obtained was analyzed using the Chi-square model and presented in form of pie charts, bar graphs and tables. The study showed that most farmers in Nakalama Sub-county use dry shelled, cleaned, sorted and milled maize to increase on their income. However, the degree of influence maybe watered down if the farmers have limited funding, lack of materials that which can be used for value addition like maize milling machines and well-ventilated granaries and this calls for the need to strengthen the aspect of value addition e.g. through using quality seeds and proper post-harvest handling techniques. This study submits that farmers need to be encouraged to use value addition techniques in order to increase on their income from maize production. However, during the research several challenges were encountered for example during data collection process farmers had little knowledge about value addition and its importance to farmers since they have less access to value addition equipment like machines and skills to use them.