The Future of Smallholder Farming in Eastern Africa - Uganda ...

6. Methodology
6.1. Data Requirements and Collection
The study is basically a household-level analysis. Relevant secondary information was
collected from the archives of various organizations (for example, the Central Statistical
Authority). Field surveys were conducted to collect primary data. The set of information
collected included resource endowment patterns, socioeconomic characteristics, production,
post-harvest infrastructure, inventory of storage, processing, stock-management practices,
losses, food availability, sales, purchases, prices, functions, and importance of rural
institutions (formal and nonformal) such as credit, saving, and cooperatives.
Three areas that mostly produce maize (Bako, west of Addis), wheat (Chilalo, south of
Addis), and teff (Ada, east of Addis) were included in the study for the obvious reason that
these crops are the major food items in the country (together they would constitute two-thirds
of total calorie intake). East Shewa and Arssi and, to some extent, Bako (in western Shewa)
occupy an important place in the history of Ethiopia’s agricultural development for several
reasons. First, the regions are better endowed than most with good agricultural potential.
Rainfall has been adequate and its distribution normal with reasonable stability, compared
with many other areas in the country. Second, they are the most accessible areas within the
country. Third, these are among the few surplus-producing regions. Fourth, partly due to the
above factors and their proximity to major urban centers, these regions have served as testing
sites for a series of “rural development” ventures. Fifth, they tend to exhibit a distinct
cropping pattern marked by a relatively high degree of intensification, concentration, and
market orientation. The tendency to specialize in the production of distinct cereals is
apparent. Their ratio of marketed surplus is one of the highest in the country.
Although the target sites were selected because of their specialization in the three crops
(maize, wheat, and teff) , data were collected for all other crops grown in the area and the
analysis was done accordingly. Two peasant associations (PAs) from each region were
purposively considered, making a total of six PAs. These are Oda-Jila and Gode-Finchama in
Chilalo Keteba and Ude in Ada; and Sadan-Kite and Dembi-Gobu in Bako. Each PA
provided a list of peasant households, which served as a sample frame for stratification
purposes and ultimate selection of sample households. Peasant households were randomly
selected after the food-deficit (or poorer) ones were excluded. This is because post-harvest
grain management assumes the existence of surplus production over and above immediate
consumption, which the poorer households do not have. Fifty peasant households from each
PA were selected; hence, a total of 300 households were included in the survey.
Primary data were collected using a questionnaire, interview guides, participatory discussions
with focus groups, and informants. Six enumerators (two for each area) were employed and
trained to administer the questionnaire. The researchers undertook a series of discussions
with the focus groups and informants and supervised the enumerators.