Determinants of cocoa growing uptake among small holder farmers in Imanyiro subcounty Mayuge district.
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Date
2026-09-11
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Busitema University
Abstract
This study examined the determinants of cocoa growing uptake among smallholder farmers in Imaniyro Sub-county, Mayuge District, Uganda. Despite government and development partner efforts to promote cocoa production, uptake remains below its potential due to various socioeconomic and production-related challenges. A cross-sectional survey design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. Data were collected from 150 smallholder farmers using structured questionnaires, interviews and observations. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data in SPSS version 26. The findings showed that cocoa farmers were predominantly male (53.3%) and had low to moderate education levels. Significant differences between adopters and non-adopters were observed in age, land size, household size, farming experience, cocoa trees owned and quantity sold. Logistic regression shows that age significantly leads to the increased likelihood of cocoa uptake, whereas cocoa farming experience and land size significantly facilitated adoption decisions. Lack of technical knowledge (98.0%), high input costs (95.3%), low cocoa prices (94.0%), climate change (92.7%), poor road infrastructure (90.7%), pests and diseases (89.3%) and theft of cocoa beans (86.0%) are the major factors hindering cocoa adoption. Conclusively, cocoa uptake is motivated by farmers' socioeconomic characteristics and is limited by inadequate technical knowledge, limited financial resources and production challenges. Enhancing extension services, offering affordable inputs and seedlings, increasing access to credit, and enhancing farmer training are significant for rising the levels of cocoa adoption and improving living condition among smallholder farmers in Imaniyro Sub-county.
Keywords: Cocoa growing uptake, Smallholder farmers, Socioeconomic factors, Constraints Binary logistic regression, Imaniyro Sub-county, Mayuge District, Uganda.
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Undergraduate Research Report
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Nangiya, S. N. (2026). Determinants of cocoa growing uptake among small holder farmers in Imanyiro subcounty Mayuge district. [Unpublished undergraduate research report].Busitema University.