Assessing the contribution of peri urban agriculture to household incomes :

Abstract

The study focused on evaluating how peri-urban agriculture contributes to household incomes in Goma Sub County, Mukono municipality. It employed a cross-sectional design, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, with a sample of 100 households. Interviews and questionnaires were used to gather information, which was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The results showed that most participants were women, many of whom were married and belonged to households averaging five members. The average age of respondents was 38.88 years, with a mean annual household income of 12,105,000 UGX. Most respondents had some education, typically up to secondary level. The majority of agro-enterprises were sole proprietorships, employing fewer than five people. Many respondents worked part-time, allowing them to participate in peri-urban agriculture. They primarily engaged in this practice to increase their income, focusing on fruit farming and raising small livestock, such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks. On average, farmers earned 2,514,500 UGX annually. However, they faced challenges like pests and diseases, expensive land access, water availability and quality issues, and soil contamination from poor waste disposal. The research suggests prioritizing land access for farmers, especially in built-up areas, by designating specific land for agriculture in peri-urban regions. It also recommends that farmers maintain accurate records of investments and returns for each enterprise, and that subsidies be provided for agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to lower costs and boost production.