Farmer-preferred traits and variety choices for finger millet in Uganda
Finger millet is a climate-resilient crop providing food and nutrition security and income In Uganda. However, the current productivity of finger millet in farmers’ fields is low and among other factors, this is due to the poor adoption of improved varieties. With this study we aim to identify and p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1282268/full |
| _version_ | 1797292210912231424 |
|---|---|
| author | Sophia Hamba Faizo Kasule Ibrahim Mayanja Moses Biruma Hedwig Natabirwa Losira Nasirumbi Sanya Deborah Rubin Martina Occelli Scovia Adikini |
| author_facet | Sophia Hamba Faizo Kasule Ibrahim Mayanja Moses Biruma Hedwig Natabirwa Losira Nasirumbi Sanya Deborah Rubin Martina Occelli Scovia Adikini |
| author_sort | Sophia Hamba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Finger millet is a climate-resilient crop providing food and nutrition security and income In Uganda. However, the current productivity of finger millet in farmers’ fields is low and among other factors, this is due to the poor adoption of improved varieties. With this study we aim to identify and profile varietal traits preferred by finger millet farmers and consumers in Uganda. We specifically focus on how these traits vary among women and men in the Ugandan finger millet value chain. We collect data using semi-structured questionnaires among 170 households growing millet in Bushenyi, Lira, and Nwoya districts, and we triangulate questionnaires replies with qualitative information from 11 focus group discussions and 3 key informant interviews. Using descriptive statistics and probit regression models, we find that the majority of the farmers (97%) prefer growing landrace varieties of finger millet compared to only 3% growing improved varieties. The most preferred varieties were Kaguma in Bushenyi, Ajuko Manyige in Nwoya, Kal Atar, and Okello Chiba in Lira. Farmers’ choice of variety depends on a combination of traits including agronomic, marketing, and consumption traits. Gender, marital status, education levels, and occupation are the major socio-demographic factors that influence specific preferences related to finger millet variety. This study lays a foundation for designing a gender-responsive finger millet product profile to guide the development and release of new varieties by the finger millet crop improvement program. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:48:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ffb8a785eae4734a550c3263d9f14d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:48:34Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ffb8a785eae4734a550c3263d9f14d02024-02-28T16:16:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2024-02-01810.3389/fsufs.2024.12822681282268Farmer-preferred traits and variety choices for finger millet in UgandaSophia Hamba0Faizo Kasule1Ibrahim Mayanja2Moses Biruma3Hedwig Natabirwa4Losira Nasirumbi Sanya5Deborah Rubin6Martina Occelli7Scovia Adikini8National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), National Agricultural Research Organization, Soroti, UgandaInterdepartmental Genetics and Genomics (IGG), Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesNational Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), National Agricultural Research Organization, Soroti, UgandaNational Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), National Agricultural Research Organization, Soroti, UgandaFood Biosciences and Agribusiness Center, National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), National Agricultural Research Organization, Kampala, UgandaSchool of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaCultural Practice, LLC, Bethesda, MD, United StatesCornell University, Ithaca, NY, United StatesNational Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), National Agricultural Research Organization, Soroti, UgandaFinger millet is a climate-resilient crop providing food and nutrition security and income In Uganda. However, the current productivity of finger millet in farmers’ fields is low and among other factors, this is due to the poor adoption of improved varieties. With this study we aim to identify and profile varietal traits preferred by finger millet farmers and consumers in Uganda. We specifically focus on how these traits vary among women and men in the Ugandan finger millet value chain. We collect data using semi-structured questionnaires among 170 households growing millet in Bushenyi, Lira, and Nwoya districts, and we triangulate questionnaires replies with qualitative information from 11 focus group discussions and 3 key informant interviews. Using descriptive statistics and probit regression models, we find that the majority of the farmers (97%) prefer growing landrace varieties of finger millet compared to only 3% growing improved varieties. The most preferred varieties were Kaguma in Bushenyi, Ajuko Manyige in Nwoya, Kal Atar, and Okello Chiba in Lira. Farmers’ choice of variety depends on a combination of traits including agronomic, marketing, and consumption traits. Gender, marital status, education levels, and occupation are the major socio-demographic factors that influence specific preferences related to finger millet variety. This study lays a foundation for designing a gender-responsive finger millet product profile to guide the development and release of new varieties by the finger millet crop improvement program.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1282268/fullfinger milletgender dynamicssocio-demographic factorsvariety preferenceUganda |
| spellingShingle | Sophia Hamba Faizo Kasule Ibrahim Mayanja Moses Biruma Hedwig Natabirwa Losira Nasirumbi Sanya Deborah Rubin Martina Occelli Scovia Adikini Farmer-preferred traits and variety choices for finger millet in Uganda Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems finger millet gender dynamics socio-demographic factors variety preference Uganda |
| title | Farmer-preferred traits and variety choices for finger millet in Uganda |
| title_full | Farmer-preferred traits and variety choices for finger millet in Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Farmer-preferred traits and variety choices for finger millet in Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Farmer-preferred traits and variety choices for finger millet in Uganda |
| title_short | Farmer-preferred traits and variety choices for finger millet in Uganda |
| title_sort | farmer preferred traits and variety choices for finger millet in uganda |
| topic | finger millet gender dynamics socio-demographic factors variety preference Uganda |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1282268/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sophiahamba farmerpreferredtraitsandvarietychoicesforfingermilletinuganda AT faizokasule farmerpreferredtraitsandvarietychoicesforfingermilletinuganda AT ibrahimmayanja farmerpreferredtraitsandvarietychoicesforfingermilletinuganda AT mosesbiruma farmerpreferredtraitsandvarietychoicesforfingermilletinuganda AT hedwignatabirwa farmerpreferredtraitsandvarietychoicesforfingermilletinuganda AT losiranasirumbisanya farmerpreferredtraitsandvarietychoicesforfingermilletinuganda AT deborahrubin farmerpreferredtraitsandvarietychoicesforfingermilletinuganda AT martinaoccelli farmerpreferredtraitsandvarietychoicesforfingermilletinuganda AT scoviaadikini farmerpreferredtraitsandvarietychoicesforfingermilletinuganda |