Browsing by Author "Okello, Daniel Micheal"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Access to Veterinary Services and Expenditure on Pig Health Management: The Case of Smallholder Pig Farmers in Northern Uganda
    (Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2020) Okello, Daniel Micheal; Odongo, Walter; Aliro, Tonny; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza
    Pig farming has gained momentum for most smallholder farmers in developing countries as a means of livelihood and household incomes. However, prospects of the pig enterprises are constrained by pig health management issues which affect both its productivity and profitability. Using a cross-sectional survey of 240 smallholder pig farmers, we assessed factors influencing farmers’ access to veterinary services and expenditure on pig health management in northern Uganda. Data was analysed using the binary logit and censored tobit regression models. Access to veterinary services was significantly influenced by pig herd size (p < 0.05), Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) membership (p < 0.1), breed (p < 0.05), production system (p < 0.05) and number of health issues recorded on farm (p < 0.01). Education level (p < 0.01), farming household members (p < 0.05), pig herd size (p < 0.01), breed (p < 0.05), previous disease incidences (p < 0.05), household labour available (p < 0.1) and access to veterinary services (p < 0.01) significantly influenced pig health expenditure. Efforts to improve access to veterinary services and improve pig health management should focus on promoting more intensive production systems and improved breeds that are associated with better access to veterinary services and reduced cost of pig health management.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An Assessment of Pig Feed Diversity amongst Smallholder Pig Farmers in Northern Uganda
    (Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2021) Okello, Daniel Micheal; Odongo, Walter; Aliro, Tony; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly
    Pig production has a high potential for increasing household incomes of both rural and urban smallholder farmers. However, this opportunity is constrained by the high cost of feeds and its scarcity. As such, farmers usually feed pigs on multiple feed resources within their reach. Although the diversity of pig feeds is important in overcoming the challenges, there is limited information on how this can be achieved, and the factors influencing it. Using a cross-section of 240 pig farming households, this study assessed how socio-demographic, technical and institutional factors influenced household pig feed diversity. Statistical analysis was performed at p < 0.1, p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), respectively. Results showed that marital status (p = 0.012), household size (p = 0.085), number of crop (p = 0.008) and other livestock enterprises (p = 0.055), ownership of mobile phone (p = 0.091), buying feeds (p = 0.005), and use of radio (p = 0.032) and friend as sources (p = 0.002) of agricultural information had a positive significant influence on household pig feed diversity. Additionally, age (p = 0.042), land size owned (p = 0.085) and breed [rearing local (p = 0.009) and crosses (p = 0.000) as opposed to exotic breeds] had a negative significant influence on household pig feed diversity. The study recommends that focus should be placed on improving access to farm inputs, agricultural and market information for smallholder pig farmers so as to improve pig feed diversity and subsequently enhance production and productivity. Radio and mobile phone technologies are opportunities that can support information sharing.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Drivers of Household Demand for Cooking Energy: A Case of Central Uganda
    (Heliyon, 2022) Mainimo, Edmond Nyuyki; Okello, Daniel Micheal; Mambo, Wilson; Mugonola, Basil
    In Uganda, the total primary household energy consumption is mainly biomass. Lack of empirical information remains a daunting challenge to operationalization of strategies and policies aimed at reducing unsustainable energy use. This study specifically determined household demand for different cooking energy sources (briquettes, charcoal and firewood). Data were collected from a sample of 235 households with the help of pretested structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR). From the econometric analysis, results revealed that briquettes demand was significantly influenced by fuel expenditure, briquette price, gender of household head, main occupation and source of fuel. Further, charcoal demand was influenced by fuel expenditure, household size, charcoal price, district and fuel restriction. On the other hand, demand for firewood was influenced by household income, firewood price, fuel expenditure, household size and source of the fuel. From our findings, it is recommended that tailored trainings on sustainable exploitation of biomass resources for energy supply should be conducted across the country. In addition, there is need for such trainings to target women, who are the decision makers with respect to household energy supply. Lastly the study recommends the need for low-cost briquetting technologies that would reduce its price to levels that are competitive to charcoal and firewood.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Farm Level Allocative Efficiency of Rice Production in Gulu and Amuru Districts, Northern Uganda
    (Agricultural and Food Economics, 2019) Okello, Daniel Micheal; Wabbi, Jackline Bonabana; Mugonola, Basil
    Smallholder farming, predominant in Uganda, is characterized by low productivity for most crops including rice which is gaining prominence as both a food and income crop. The low productivity is mostly attributed to allocative inefficiency. Allocative efficiency (AE) considers farmers’ ability to allocate resources efficiently, by producing the maximum possible output at minimum cost. Increasing AE requires an understanding of the specific sources of inefficiency that vary across farm enterprises, geographically and temporally. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Gulu and Amuru districts of Northern Uganda to assess the sources of farm-level allocative inefficiency in rice production using the stochastic frontier approach. Data were collected from a random sample of 200 smallholder rice farmers. Results show that the mean AE was 75%. Household size, distance to trading centre, farm size, number of crop enterprises, use of hired labour, use of ox-plough, and access to credit had significant effects on AE. We recommend adoption of technologies such as the use of ox-ploughs and reallocation of farm resources especially labour.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Household Food Security, Child Dietary Diversity and Copping Strategies among Rural Households. The Case of Kole District in Northern Uganda
    (ResearchGate, 2022) Elolu, Samuel; Agako, Allod; Okello, Daniel Micheal
    Household food security, feeding practices, dietary diversity and copping strategies to household food insecurity are largely interconnected. Using a cross sectional study approach involving 162 mothers and care givers in Kole district of NorthernUganda, this study examined the scenarios of household food security status, child feeding practices, dietary diversity and copping strategies. The study revealed that majority of the households (55%) were food secure with an overall observation of low dietary diversity at the household level (72.8%), largely showing dominance of starch-based Cereals, roots and tubers (82%) and limited consumption of other food groups, notably fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products (18% combined). In terms of feeding practices, majority of the children were fed breast milk for at least 24 months, with mandatory exclusive breastfeeding highly adhered to, but the introduction of complementary foods often delayed and not well planned. Results also showed that a wide range of coping strategies are employed however the major ones were, reliance on less preferred food (54.9%), limiting portions of meals (35.2%), reducing number of melas taken in a day (29%), and gathering wild fruits and harvesting immature crops (29.6%). Generally, it was observed that household food security is a strong determinant of dietary of child dietary diversity, may influence feeding practices and the range of coping strategies applicable to households when they experience food insecurity. It is apparent that nutritional education, household size and livelihood diversity also play a significant role in as far as household food security status, child feeding, diversity and food insecurity copping are concerned within rural households.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Non-Attitudinal and Non-Knowledge Based Factors Constrain Households from Translating Good Nutritional Knowledge and Attitude to Achieve the WHO Recommended Minimum Intake Level for Fruits and Vegetables in a Developing Country Setting: Evidence from Gulu District, Uganda
    (BMC nutrition, 2021) Lomira, Benjamin Kenyi Bendere; Nassanga, Prossy; Okello, Daniel Micheal; Ongeng, Duncan
    The high level of incidence of mortality attributed to non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension being experienced in developing countries requires concerted effort on investment in strategies that can reduce the risks of development of such diseases. Fruits and vegetables (FV) contain natural bioactive compounds, and if consumed at or above 400 g per day (RDMIL) as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) is believed to contribute to reduced risk of development of such diseases. The objective of this study was to determine in a developing country set-up, the extent to which rural and urban households conform to RDMIL, the status of nutritional attitude (NA) and knowledge (NK) associated with consumption of FV, and to delineate non-attitudinal and non-knowledge-based factors (NANK) that hinder achievement of RDMIL. A cross-sectional survey of 400 randomly selected households and 16 focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted using Gulu district of Uganda as a microcosm for a developing country setting. Level of consumption of FV was assessed using 24-h dietary recall and compared to RDMIL as a fraction (%). The status of NK and NA were determined using sets of closed-ended questions anchored on a three-point Likert scale. Further quantitative statistical analyses were conducted using t-test, chi-square, Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression. FGD provided data on NANK factors and were analysed using qualitative content analysis procedure. Urban and rural inhabitants met up to 72.0 and 62.4% of the RMDIL, respectively, with absolute intake being higher among urban than rural households by 37.54 g. NK and NA were good but the intensity of NK was higher among urban respondents by 11%. RDMIL was positively correlated with NA while socio-demographic predictors of RDMIL varied with household location. FGD revealed that primary agricultural production constraints, market limitations, postharvest management limitations, health concerns, social discomfort and environmental policy restrictions were the major NANK factors that hindered achievement of the RDMIL. These results indicate that NANK factors constrain households from translating good NA and NK to achieve the RMDIL.