The driving factors of the use of indigenous knowledge among smallholder maize farmers-a case study of Buwagi parish, Budondo sub-county.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the driving factors of the use of indigenous technical knowledge among the small holder maize farmers in Buwagi parish-Budondo sub-county, Jinja district. The objectives of the study included: to identify the major indigenous knowledge practices used production, to identify the benefits of using 1K practices on maize production, to identify the challenges faced by small. holder farmers while using ITK on maize production. A review of related research on Indigenous Technical Knowledge on maize production is presented to determine how other scholars have investigated ITK in relation to agricultural practices. A cross, section survey design was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data which involve random selection of participants from a sample size of 39 using a pre-tested structured questionnaire as data collection instruments. The data collection methods included: questionnaires, observation and focus discussion. Data analysis, data presentation and interpretation. were described through the use of STATA software to investigate the relationship and association among variables and data was analyzed basing on the statistics from the questionnaires and interviews of the respondents and also presented, analyzed and interpreted according to the objectives of the study. The summary of findings showed that ITK plays an important role in enhancing maize production among the small holder maize farmers in many forms' like it preserves. soil, it ensures health crops, ensures food availability, reduced costs of production, increased product prices however most of the farmers are affected by the challenge of law yields as being the most affecting challenge though there are many other difficulties faced while using indigenous technical knowledge which included: composite manure being bulky to carry, time consuming in collecting items, materials delay to decompose, its labor intensive, delayed production of result no organized classes, and its claimed to be out dated and others. Lts, therefore, recommended that farmers should do research on new farming methods other that traditional of indigenous farming methods through formation of farmer’s cooperatives to help educate or train them on other farming methods as well as practicing crop rotation, use bush burning. and bush following, mixed farming in order to keep the soil fertile hence high maize yields.