The role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in Uganda
Abstract Background Like for other agricultural commodities, the bean value chain involves a series of actors including; farmers as producers, middlemen, retailers, wholesalers and exporters. The study explains the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) marketing constraints faced by smallholder bean farm...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Agriculture & Food Security |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-022-00380-7 |
| _version_ | 1818064779889082368 |
|---|---|
| author | George Jjagwe Paul Kibwika Robert Mazur Haroon Sseguya |
| author_facet | George Jjagwe Paul Kibwika Robert Mazur Haroon Sseguya |
| author_sort | George Jjagwe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Like for other agricultural commodities, the bean value chain involves a series of actors including; farmers as producers, middlemen, retailers, wholesalers and exporters. The study explains the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) marketing constraints faced by smallholder bean farmers and other actors in the bean value market chain that need redress for efficient and effective bean marketing in Uganda. Specifically, the effect of farmer bean production and marketing modes, and limited knowledge about bean market requirements on the final prices received for their beans and their limited ability to demand better prices is explained by the study. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 127 farmers (in strata of trained and non-trained farmers), 34 traders, five input dealers and 40 consumers, using semi structured questionnaires, and interview guides. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using SPSS and content analysis, respectively. Results Trained farmers produced more beans in the two seasons though the mean difference was not statistically significant from the non-trained farmers. Farmers determine the quantity of beans sold and not the prices. Both trained and non-trained farmers consider the price offered by traders through consultations. Most farmers individually sold their beans with little role in determining prices. Farmers formed groups to better access inputs and improve their bargaining power. Variety, price and quality influenced consumer purchase decisions. NABE 15 K132, NABE4, Yellow and white beans were preferred varieties. Trained farmers sold beans at a higher price of USD 0.505 per kilo gram, while non-trained farmers sold at USD 0.369 per kilo gram. The records kept by majority of the farmers pertain either to dates particular activities were executed or when they received visitors, and could neither be used in determining the bean prices nor costing production. Conclusions The constraints faced by the different bean actors provide a basis for developing bean marketing models. Addressing smallholders’ marketing challenges will increase their incomes and boost production. Increase in income through increased prices for farmers will improve farmer living standards as they will be able to meet basic needs. The quantity increase in production will partly address the food insecurity problems through direct consumption and selling the excess to buy other desired foods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T14:41:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8aa26e1210e04c909ae7f19d825229cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2048-7010 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T14:41:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture & Food Security |
| spelling | doaj.art-8aa26e1210e04c909ae7f19d825229cd2022-12-22T01:44:41ZengBMCAgriculture & Food Security2048-70102022-09-0111111010.1186/s40066-022-00380-7The role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in UgandaGeorge Jjagwe0Paul Kibwika1Robert Mazur2Haroon Sseguya3Department of Extension and Innovation Studies, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University KampalaDepartment of Extension and Innovation Studies) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University KampalaDepartment of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Iowa State UniversityInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Eastern Africa HubAbstract Background Like for other agricultural commodities, the bean value chain involves a series of actors including; farmers as producers, middlemen, retailers, wholesalers and exporters. The study explains the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) marketing constraints faced by smallholder bean farmers and other actors in the bean value market chain that need redress for efficient and effective bean marketing in Uganda. Specifically, the effect of farmer bean production and marketing modes, and limited knowledge about bean market requirements on the final prices received for their beans and their limited ability to demand better prices is explained by the study. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 127 farmers (in strata of trained and non-trained farmers), 34 traders, five input dealers and 40 consumers, using semi structured questionnaires, and interview guides. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using SPSS and content analysis, respectively. Results Trained farmers produced more beans in the two seasons though the mean difference was not statistically significant from the non-trained farmers. Farmers determine the quantity of beans sold and not the prices. Both trained and non-trained farmers consider the price offered by traders through consultations. Most farmers individually sold their beans with little role in determining prices. Farmers formed groups to better access inputs and improve their bargaining power. Variety, price and quality influenced consumer purchase decisions. NABE 15 K132, NABE4, Yellow and white beans were preferred varieties. Trained farmers sold beans at a higher price of USD 0.505 per kilo gram, while non-trained farmers sold at USD 0.369 per kilo gram. The records kept by majority of the farmers pertain either to dates particular activities were executed or when they received visitors, and could neither be used in determining the bean prices nor costing production. Conclusions The constraints faced by the different bean actors provide a basis for developing bean marketing models. Addressing smallholders’ marketing challenges will increase their incomes and boost production. Increase in income through increased prices for farmers will improve farmer living standards as they will be able to meet basic needs. The quantity increase in production will partly address the food insecurity problems through direct consumption and selling the excess to buy other desired foods.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-022-00380-7Farm gate priceValue chainSmallholder farmersBeans |
| spellingShingle | George Jjagwe Paul Kibwika Robert Mazur Haroon Sseguya The role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in Uganda Agriculture & Food Security Farm gate price Value chain Smallholder farmers Beans |
| title | The role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in Uganda |
| title_full | The role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in Uganda |
| title_fullStr | The role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in Uganda |
| title_short | The role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in Uganda |
| title_sort | role of smallholder bean farmers in determining farm gate prices for beans in uganda |
| topic | Farm gate price Value chain Smallholder farmers Beans |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-022-00380-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT georgejjagwe theroleofsmallholderbeanfarmersindeterminingfarmgatepricesforbeansinuganda AT paulkibwika theroleofsmallholderbeanfarmersindeterminingfarmgatepricesforbeansinuganda AT robertmazur theroleofsmallholderbeanfarmersindeterminingfarmgatepricesforbeansinuganda AT haroonsseguya theroleofsmallholderbeanfarmersindeterminingfarmgatepricesforbeansinuganda AT georgejjagwe roleofsmallholderbeanfarmersindeterminingfarmgatepricesforbeansinuganda AT paulkibwika roleofsmallholderbeanfarmersindeterminingfarmgatepricesforbeansinuganda AT robertmazur roleofsmallholderbeanfarmersindeterminingfarmgatepricesforbeansinuganda AT haroonsseguya roleofsmallholderbeanfarmersindeterminingfarmgatepricesforbeansinuganda |