Assessing the effects of maize production on farmer’s income in Bwikhonge sub-county, Bulambuli district

Abstract

Maize production in Bwikhonge Sub County is reduced over the last decades. Many problems are creating in maize production. Which are technical, marketing, and social problems? The technical problem includes lack of financial capital, lack of quality seeds. Marketing problems include low cost of maize production, high cost of maize inputs. The present study aims to find the socioeconomic characteristics of maize producer, assess the contribution of maize production and also estimate their profit function from maize production. Data was collected from five parishes of the sub county. Namely, parishes, Bulumera, Bwikhonge, Buwabwala, Bunalwere, and Buwekanda. Primary data has been collected from 70 farmers. The simple random sampling has been followed, both statistical and tabulation analysis were applied in this study. Among the respondents, male was 39 comprising of 55.7% and female were 31 comprised of 44.3% of selected sample size. A simple average method was used for finding the results. The majority 57.1% respondents reached in primary, 30% attained secondary level, 4.3% reached tertiary level and 8.6% were illiterate. The perception of the respondents on the benefits indicates that 2 out of the 9 benefits under consideration were significant (mean score≥3.00). The most important benefit was that of families hardly suffers from hunger (mean score =3.71). This was followed by the purchase of clothes for self and family with ease (mean score =3.39). Finally, the total revenue was UGX. 2,239,584.29 and total cost was UGX. 949,558.57 per hectare in the research area. The Gross margin profit was UGX. 1,290,025.72. It is recommended that the government should provide these inputs and other related support lead to an increased significantly in maize.