Assessing factors affecting quality potato seed production and profitability in Kween district

Abstract

Potato seed production and profitability is known to be influenced by various agronomic practices, input supply and provision of extension services in Kween district. Therefore, optimum agronomic practices with good input supply would improve on the potato seed production and profitability in Kween district. The study was carried out to assess factors affecting quality potato seed production and profitability in Kween district. The objective of the study was to identify factors limiting production of quality potato seed and to determine profitability of quality potato seed. Quality seed was defined as pure variety with a high germination percentage, free from diseases, pests, high yielding and good maturity. Purposive random sample procedure was used to select 60potato seed producers, structured questionnaires was used to collect primary data from the households .The results of the study indicated that high costs of seeds(46.6%),lack of oxen(60.0%),limited stores(66.6%),weeds(50.0%),high costs of fertilizers(53.4%),poor roads for transportation(66.6%) and low prices(53.4%) were the main constraints limiting quality potato seed production.28.3 %of farmers were producing certified seeds and 71.7% of farmers were producing Non-certified seeds, during production 81.7%farmers were cultivating in two seasons and 18.3%farmers were cultivating only one season. The analysis of potato seed shows that potato seed production was profitable, where by profitability arises when the aggregate amount of revenue is greater than the aggregate amount of expenses, as revealed from gross margin analysis that potato seed production was profitable were farmers earned a net profit of Shs 2,097,495 in season A and Shs 1,748,252 in season B Potato seed output fetched the highest. Therefore, producing own seed for planting, improving on the storage facilities and renovation of poor roads will help farmers to improve on the quality of potato seed production and profitability.