Browsing by Author "Kalule, Stephen W."
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Item Contextual Determinants of Learning Behaviour Differentials amongst Host-farmers of University-Student Outreach in Uganda(Advances in Agricultural Science, 2019) Kalule, Stephen W.; Sseguya, Haroon; Ongeng, Duncan; Karubanga, Gabriel A.In Sub-Saharan Africa, a knowledge void still exists on two contextual questions of university-community outreach: 1) how social demographics differences are related to farmer learning behaviour towards student outreach, and 2) how student outreach models compare with public and non-public extension services. A cross-section survey was used to obtain data from a sample of 283 respondents purposively selected from previous hosts of student outreach of Gulu University in Uganda. Results from Kruskal-Wallis method revealed that there were significant differences among host-farmers with respect to farmstead distance to the university for knowledge sharing (?2 (2) = 8.5; P < 0.05) and giving feedback (?2 (2) = 7.6; P < 0.05). Regarding the experience of participating in outreach program, significant differences among host-farmers were found in seeking information (?2 (2) = 12.3; P < 0.01); knowledge sharing (?2 (2) = 10.4; P < 0.01); seeking feedback (?2 (2) = 16.4; P < 0.01) and giving feedback (?2 (2) = 8.1; P < 0.05). Further, Friedman test results showed that host-farmers perceived the university-student outreach to be superior and significantly different from public and non-public agricultural extension. We conclude that university outreach is a useful service to farmer. However, its success in facilitating farmer learning is dependent on farmstead distance to the university and farmers’ level of experience of participating in university activities. We recommend more logistical support from governments to university outreach programs so that outreach services can efficiently complement public and non-public interventions in delivering community-based training and learning approaches.Item Credit-Use and Technical Efficiency among Smallholder Banana Producers in Sheema District, Uganda(International Journal of Accounting and Financial Management Research, 2013) Kalule, Stephen W.Credit use among smallholder banana farmers is reportedly on the rise though with a high rate of loan repayment default in Sheema District. However, research has not responded to this challenge to ascertain whether these farmers use credit capital efficiently. Using a representative sample of 90 households, technical efficiency of credit-using banana farmers was estimated within the Cobb-Douglas production framework. Results of the Stochastic Production Frontier Analysis (SPF) revealed that banana producers were highly efficient, with 90% of the total variation in output arising from technical inefficiency rather than random variability. Credit capital and labor, as factors of production exhibited decreasing returns to scale. In the sample, if the average and least-efficient farmers adopted best practices of their mostefficient counterparts, their output and income streams would improve by 22.8% and 41.3% respectively. Post-secondary education, plot size for bananas and farming experience were identified as the major factors that would significantly reduce technical inefficiency. Overall, the current production technology in the banana farming system still needs a lot of improvement if credit capital is to be used efficiently. The study recommended searching for more productivity-enhancing technologies, extension training on credit management and appropriate agro-chemical use.Item Facilitating Conditions for Farmer Learning Behaviour in the Student-to-Farmer University Outreach(The journal of agricultural education and extension, 2019) Kalule, Stephen W.; Sseguya, Haroon; Ongeng, Duncan; Karubanga, GabrielThis study elucidates on how faculty supervision support to students during farm placements and other facilitating conditions influence farmer learning in the student-centred university outreach. Cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of 283 farmers who had previously hosted students of Gulu University in the student-to-farmer university outreach. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse how faculty supervision support to students in combination with other facilitating conditions affect the formation of intentions for learning and actual farmer learning behaviour. Faculty supervision support in the student-to-farmer outreach was found to significantly influence formation of intentions for learning (β = 0.380; t = 5.263; P < .01) and actual farmer learning behaviour (β = 0.182; t = 2.081; P < .05). Faculty supervision support to students is critical to fostering lasting learning relationships in university outreach. Thus, it needs to be a part of the transformation agenda of the higher education sector for improved community linkages and innovation. Empirical data obtained from the context of student-centred university outreach is used to extend the model of facilitating conditions. The study addresses how faculty supervision support together with farmers’ perception of student attitudes and the value of the learning content influence farmers’ learning behaviour during university outreach.Item Financial Performance and Technical Efficiency Differentials for Apicultural Technologies in Nakaseke District, Uganda(The Journal of Developing Areas, 2014) Kalule, Stephen W.; Ssebbale, EdrisaDespite apiculture being potentially a large income earner, the financial performance apicultural technologies at farm-level is still poor yet very few studies have delved in Using a representative sample of 69 respondents from Nakaseke District, the Ordered revealed that farming experience, apiary plot size, shortness of distance of water source colonization levels were the major positive determinants of apicultural financial Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) suggested that 62% and 76% of the total variation output in traditional and improved technologies was due to technical inefficiency. efficiency levels in traditional technology seemed to suggest that more honey output realized through introduction of improved technologies rather than focusing on technical the low efficiency in improved technology would be improved using technical training. recommended policy incentives ranging from specific commodity-targeting extension provision of low interest rate credit products and baiting materialsItem Marketing Margins and Efficiency of Cooking Banana Retail Trade in Kampala City, Uganda(International Journal of Sales and Marketing, 2013) Kalule, Stephen W.; Kyanjo, Joseph L.Cooking bananas like many other food crops in Uganda have experienced consumer price hike threatening poor and urban consumers’ dietary diversity and food security. Unfortunately, little research attention has been paid to the demand side of this stapple’s supply chain and there is hardly any study that has examined its marketing system performance. Using a sample of 80 representative retail traders, the study examined marketing margins and efficiency of small and big size banana bunches. Results revealed that the banana retail trade was highly inefficient. However, the inefficiency was more felt in trading small size banana bunches than big ones. OLS results on the other hand showed that marketing efficiency was significantly reduced by marketing costs though significantly improved by the scale of operation. The study recommended that provision of policy incentives such as low interest credit to retail traders as way of encouraging business expansion and backward market integration.Item Motivational pathways for farmer learning behaviour in the student‐to‐farmer university outreach(International Journal of Training and Development, 2023) Kalule, Stephen W.; Sseguya, Haroon; Karubanga, Gabriel; Ongeng, DuncanIn recent times, calls for practical training of agricultural extension workers, who exhibit the right mix of competences for responsiveness to farmer learning needs, have intensified. This comes at the time when there is an increasingly growing desire for more community‐engaged African universities, and as such, making the integration of agricultural students into community outreach services a necessity. However, empirical evidence on whether student‐led outreach and training models adequately respond to the psychological learning needs of host farmers and subsequent motivation of these farmers for learning is lacking. This study uses a structural equation modelling technique on a sample of 283 farmers who had previously participated in the student‐to‐farmer outreach of Gulu University. Results reveal that satisfying farmer learning needs influences intrinsic motivation, formation of learning intentions and farmer learning behaviour. Intrinsic motivation mediates the relationship between satisfying farmer learning needs and the outcome learning behavior. We conclude that satisfying farmer learning needs is a strong initiator of motivational pathways for farmer learning behaviour in the student‐to‐farmer university outreach. We call for more public financing of university outreach programmes so as to enable not only training for churning out graduates with the right competences of responsiveness to community needs but also fostering creative innovations involving both universities and communities.Item Policy Options and Performance Differentials of Rural Finance Sources in Sheema District, Uganda(International Journal of Accounting and Financial Management Research (IJAFMR), 2013) Kalule, Stephen W.Uganda’s financial sector has experienced rapid growth, with considerable rise in number of banks and branch outlets, and upgrading of micro-finance institutions. However, the growth has not translated into the desired financial service provision in rural areas. There is limited research examining the relative efficiency outcomes of rural finance sources, which necessitated empirical testing to generate a comparative analysis. Ordered Probit analysis on a sample of 90 respondents in Sheema District, yielded results indicating that households that depended on banks for credit had a probability of 9.4% more likely to acquire adequate credit for production than their counterparts, and banks were significantly a superior credit source. It was concluded that if government exclusively promoted Village Loans and Savings Associations (VLSAs), it would incur an opportunity cost of 20.4% in form of trade off for efficiency foregone, the value suggesting additional resources that would be required to invest in VLSAs to only match the current average efficiency outcome. The study recommended reinstatement of preferential incentives for commercials banks opening up outlets in rural areas, stepping up efforts for capacity building to micro-finance institutions as well as micro-finance institutions themselves broadening the capital-base through purchase of securities.Item The relationship between market information and entrepreneurial orientation: the case of smallholder honey producers in Northern Uganda(Agricultural and Food Economics, 2023) Amuko, Walter; Kalule, Stephen W.; Odongo, WalterThe purpose of this study was to determine the influence of market information on entrepreneurial orientations of smallholder honey producers. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional study design with sample of 250 honey producers was used. Structural equations modeling was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships. Findings: Results show that product quality, trader preferences and consumer preferences are the main market information needs that influence entrepreneurial orientation of honey producers. Further, the attributes of market information quality, i.e., information credibility, timeliness, accuracy and usability positively influence entrepreneurial orientation. Practical implications: Results of this study calls for prioritization of better access to regular, reliable and usable market information for honey producers in development programs and policies so as to enhance farmer entrepreneurial orientations and product development. Social implications: Smallholder honey producers are more likely to efficiently deliver innovative products if development interventions across the public and non-public sector divide become responsive to their marketing information needs as well the quality of market information provided. Originality/value: The study uses original data from honey producers to demonstrate the role that marketing information needs as well as market information quality play in catalyzing smallholder farmer entrepreneurial orientation.Item The role of development interventions in enhancing technical efficiency of sunflower producers(Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 2023) Mamgbi Zozimo, Toma; Kawube, Geoffrey; Kalule, Stephen W.A key policy concern in African agriculture is low productivity even when new technologies are generated, disseminated and adopted among farmers. This study used a cross-sectional dataset from a sample of 202 sunflower farmers drawn from northern Uganda to determine technical efficiency and assess the influence of farmer management capabilities, development intervention and socio-economic factors on technical efficiency. Results reveal that technical inefficiency among sunflower farmers account for 81% of farm-level output. Further, farmer management capabilities (p<0.01), participation in development interventions (p<0.01) and reliance on certified seeds (p<0.01) significantly reduce farmer inefficiency and thus, improve technical efficiency. The study highlights that focusing on farmer management capabilities to improve farm efficiency is more cost-saving for realizing economic gains in sunflower production rather than introducing new technologies. We recommend a policy focus on using approaches such as farmer field schools that ensures farmer advisory services at all critical stages of crop growth.Item Where is the market? Assessing the role of dryer performance and marketability of solar-dried products in acceptance of solar dryers amongst smallholder farmers(Heliyon, 2023) Korsuk Kumi, Peter G.; Elolu, Samuel; Odongo, Walter; Okello, Collins; Kalule, Stephen W.Agricultural technological development is a crucial strategy for agricultural commercialization and socio-economic transformation in Africa. However, a key challenge to technology use in agriculture remains the limited farmer acceptance of unfamiliar technologies. This paper uses a sample of 245 okra farmers drawn from northern Uganda to assess the drivers of the farmer acceptance of solar drying technology. On the basis of drying performance, farmers perceive the solar dryer to perform better than the open sun-drying method. Structural equation modelling results show that the drying rate and perceived product quality are the main determinants of farmer perceptions on product marketability. Further, product marketability drives acceptance of solar dryers among farmers. We conclude that acceptance of solar dryers is dependent on: i) the drying rate, ii) favorable perceptions towards product quality, and iii) perceived marketability of the solar-dried product. We call for policy action on intensification of efforts that promote solar drying technology, including supporting local artisans to fabricate dryers, to enable increased value addition and consumption of nutritious foods.