Effect of the parish development model on cattle productivity and household income in Amuria District, Eastern Uganda
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Date
2026-09-21
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Busitema University
Abstract
This study examined the effect of the Parish Development Model (PDM) on cattle production and household income of farmers in Amuria District, Eastern Uganda. Government has had various interventions to improve productivity and household income of farmers to remove them from subsistence agriculture. However some of these interventions have not had good results to remove people from poverty. The PDM was launched in 2021 but little information exists on how it has improved productivity and income of farmers. Data was collected using questionnaires where 202 PDM beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were selected randomly in two selected Sub Counties of Amuria District. The study employed structured questionnaires incorporating Likert-scale items to measure perceptions on cattle production improvements, household income changes, and challenges faced. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS, Results of the study showed that PDM has positively influenced cattle productivity by improving milk yields from a mean of 32.9l/month-38.4l/month per each household and income from it by 16.6% and 136.6% respectively giving an average of UGX 27.899-65.876. Results also indicated that a live weight of cattle increment of 61.2%, was realized by farmers engaged in livestock fattening though this did not translate into improved income for them because during the time of disbursement of the PDM funds, the demand for animals increased which led to increase in the prices for buying this animals, while the selling price reduced due to increased supply of animals in the market which reduced the income status of this farmers PDM beneficiaries perceived the project to less extent as having improved livestock production and income of its farmers. The biggest challenges reported were livestock diseases through drought and water shortages and limited extension services; delayed release of funds and market access followed. District and Sub County veterinary and extension departments should prioritise PDM cattle beneficiaries for community animal health worker coverage, SACCOs and other fund managers administering the PDM cattle enterprise grant should incorporate basic enterprise recordkeeping and cost budgeting guidance, Local government departments responsible for water-for-production infrastructure should coordinate more closely with PDM cattle enterprise implementation in Amuria District, prioritizing valley tanks, boreholes and other livestock water sources in parishes with a high concentration of PDM cattle beneficiaries. Move an enterprise such as bull fattening, which has an inherently lumpy, longer-cycle return beyond incremental gains.
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Undergraduate research report