Browsing by Author "Diiro, Gracious"

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    Explaining the Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties and its Effects on Yields among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Eastern and Central Uganda
    (Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 2010) Mugisha, Johnny; Diiro, Gracious
    The study analyzes adoption of improved maize varieties and its effects on farm yields and rural poverty using cross sectional data collected from 151 households in central (in Nakasongola district) and Eastern (in Soroti district) regions in Uganda. A binary probit model was fitted to examine the determinants of level of adoption. OLS method was used to estimate the determinants of intensity of adoption and the effect of adoption on yield. The sample statistics show very high levels of adoption (about 80%) and a low level of adoption intensity. The mean yields from improved maize varieties (2941.5kg/ha per season) is significantly higher than the yields from local varieties (1694. kg/ha per season). Regression results show that extension advisory services are strongly associated with adoption of improved varieties. Intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties increases farm yields. However, maize yields respond inelastically to adoption. We conclude that adoption of improved seed leads to increased yield. Thus more technical assistance in the form of training and extension is justified in the country on efficiency and welfare grounds.
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    Households’ Responsiveness to Government Ban on Polythene Carrier Bags in Uganda
    (Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 2015) Mugisha, Johnny; Diiro, Gracious
    Polythene carrier bags have become common in Uganda largely due to their desirable properties that are considered convenient by consumers. They have, however, turned out to be a big nuisance and threatening the environment due to their non-biodegradable nature amidst improper disposal systems. The government of Uganda thus banned the use of the bags in July 2007. A study was conducted to determine households’ willingness to pay for alternative carrier materials, and to determine factors that affect household’s willingness to pay for such alternatives. The study sample included households in urban and peri-urban areas from whom information was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. It was noticed that a large proportion of the respondents were aware of the ban and had positive attitudes towards the ban. Majority of the respondents expressed the need and willingness to stop using polythene bags in favour of alternative materials (durable woven baskets, cloth bags, paper bags and local kikapu bags). Factors explaining household willingness to pay for alternative materials included existence of awareness campaigns, availability of garbage collection services, sex of household head and ownership of occupied residence.