Improved inputs use and productivity in Uganda’s maize sub-sector

Geofrey Okoboi

No 101714, Research Series from Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC)

Abstract: This paper used the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) data set of 2005/06 to examine the productivity of improved inputs used by smallholder maize farmers in Uganda. Yield and gross profit functions were estimated with the stochastic frontier model. Results revealed a significant effect improved inputs use on yield but not gross profit. Moreover, farmers who planted recycled seed (of improved variety) without fertilizer obtained lower yield but the highest gross profit. Furthermore, if the opportunity cost of own land and labour inputs in maize production were imputed, overall, farmers made economic losses. Based on the prevailing farmers’ production technology and market conditions, maize cultivation in the range of 2‐3 ha was found to give optimum profit while cultivation under 1 ha or above 4 ha led to economic losses. A major contribution of this paper is that maize cultivation in Uganda in 2005/06 and even at present was/may be of no economic consequence other than food, at household level.

Keywords: Agribusiness; Agricultural and Food Policy; Agricultural Finance; Community/Rural/Urban Development; Crop Production/Industries; Farm Management; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Land Economics/Use; Production Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-03
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/101714/files/series69.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:eprcrs:101714

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.101714

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Research Series from Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by AgEcon Search ().