Dada, Anthony2026-10-142026-10-142026Dada, A. (2026). Assessing the challenges faced by smallholder maize farmers in accessing markets in Wairasa sub-county, Mayuge district. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.https://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/10917Undergraduate research reportThe purpose of this study was to assess the challenges faced by smallholder maize farmers in accessing market for their maize produces in Wairasa sub-county, Mayuge district. A cross-sectional survey design was used, employing multi -stage probability sampling were 133 respondents were randomly selected from three different parishes. The objectives of this study were to characterize the socio-demographic characteristics of smallholder maize farmers, to identify factors that determine market access among maize famers and to prioritize the primary market access and transaction challenges faced by smallholder maize farmers based on their prevalence in Wairasa sub-county in Mayuge district. Primary data was later used for analysis and the researcher used descriptive statistics involving mainly quantitative methods of data collection to capture data, probit regression was used to determine market access factors and frequency and percentage ranking was employed on the prioritizing of the primary market access and transaction challenges faced by farmers. Data was collected using kobo toolkit were research questions were uploaded on softcopy. The findings revealed that respondents averaged 37.96% years of age, were predominantly male (76%), ha low-to-moderate education, and cultivated an average of 0.99 acres of maize. Market access was significantly influenced by age, education level, maize variety, distance to market and buyer availability (p˂0.05), while gender, marital status, farming experience, market information, extension contact showed no significant effect. The most prevalent combination of challenges-price fluctuations, lack of credit, and weighing scale cheating-affected 31.6% of farmers, followed closely by low prices, price fluctuations, and weighing scale cheating (30.8%). Smallholder maize farmers in Wairasa sub-county face structural, institutional barriers that constrain market access and income. Addressing these require improving rural infrastructure and storage, standardization of weighing systems, market-oriented extension support and improving rural infrastructure and storage.enOther