Biosummary:

Current Position: Ph.D. Student (1996--) Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, The Ohio State University.

Education: M.A. Economics, The Ohio State University, March 1999, M.Sc. Agricultural Economics, Wye College, (University of London), U.K., 1991, B. Sc. Agriculture, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, June, 1988.

Previous Positions: 1992-96: Research Officer (Socio-Economist), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Uganda, 1988-1992: Scientific Officer (Socio-Economist), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, Uganda.

Major Fields of Interest: Smallholder Production Economics, Technical Change, Agricultural Research Policy, Development Economics for LDCs.

Title: A comparison of factors affecting adoption of improved management recommendations between small and larger coffee farmers in Uganda

Theme: 4E

Abstract:

The economies of developing countries continue to be dominated by the agricultural sector. In Uganda agricultural commodities contribute over 80% of total export earnings, of which coffee alone contributed 70% in 1997 (World Trade Organization, 1997). One of the major constraints to increasing production and quality is the generally low standard of management adopted by smallholder farmers who produce the bulk of Uganda's coffee. Previous studies of coffee-based farming systems indicated that most research recommended agronomic practices such as proper spacing, clean weeding, use of manure, pruning, stumping, and pest/disease control are not widely adopted by farmers.

This study attempts to identify factors that may explain differences in adoption between poor (small) and larger farmers. The results are intended to assist policy makers, researchers, and extensionists in designing and targeting interventions for small farmers.

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