13th Annual International Management Conference Proceeding

In agricultural sector, the focus was on the rehabilitation of infrastructure for traditional exports (coffee,
cotton, tea and tobacco) removal of physical, technical and institutional constraints for agricultural pricing,
trade and marketing liberalization and strengthening agricultural research and extension.
The government further reaffirmed its commitment in 1999 when it laid down a plan for modernization of
agriculture. This is a strategic and operational framework for effectively transforming the livelihoods of the
majority of the subsistence farmers in Uganda through reforming institutional and organizational structures
and changing the type and method of production and service delivery in the agricultural sector.
Despite the above efforts, the increase in agricultural output has not increased substantially. Food security
for example is not guaranteed. At any one time, 40% of the population in Uganda is food insecure (EPRC,
1998). The volume and value of traditional agricultural exports (coffee and cotton) declined in 2000
/2001(statistical abstract 2002 UBOS). Coffee exports continue to dominate the sector yet its export value
continues to decline. Its contribution to total exports declined from 31% in 2000 to 22% in 2001.
Extension services in the country are not adequate and reach few farmers, while rates of technology adoption
are below 30% (poverty status report, 1999). Whereas all these have been done, it is important to note that
little attention has been made to analyze the traditional and socio- cultural systems of access to resources
such as land. This has prompted the researcher to investigate what actually determines the agricultural output
with a special case of Nyakyera Sub County.
The Banana Crop
Historically, very little is known about the origin and time of introduction of banana cultivation in Uganda.
A lot of information about the origin is speculative. The earliest records of the banana crop in East Africa
indicate that it came from Mombasa in 1300 AD (Rubaihayo, 1993) whereas others speculate that banana
crop may have come from Java via Madagascar to East African cost. Despite the conflict in its origin, the
banana is a very important food crop in Uganda. It is estimated that 75-80% of the farmers in Uganda grow
banana and that 70% of the urban population feed on banana as their staple food. In 1989, banana
production stood at 68,657,000 metric tons with Africa being the highest producer (FAO, 1989). East
Africa accounts for more than 23.7% of banana production in Africa. Uganda produces about 44.12% of
the banana in East Africa. (Bagamba, 1994).
The Importance of Bananas in Ugandan Economy
The banana is the most widely cultivated and consumed fruit world wide (INIBAP, 1992). Uganda is the
leading producer and consumer of bananas in the whole world (Serunkuma,1992).Over 7.0m of its people
and over 68% of the urban dwellers depend on it as their staple food (Rubaihayo 1991).The banana is
cultivated for quite a number of purposes. About half of the bananas produced are eaten ripe and half are
eaten as a cooked vegetable or as a starchy staple food, Matooke.
Bananas are easily digested and are rich in carbohydrates, vitamin C and minerals such as Calcium, Potassium
and Phosphorus. In Uganda, it has been estimated that an average Ugandan eats up to 200Kg of bananas per
annum (Anon, 1994). Apart from a cooked banana meal, juice and beer are important products made from
bananas (Aked, 1994). The diluted juice is utilized in infant feeding and is claimed to encourage the flow of
milk when taken by nursing mothers. Also, banana beer and its distilled form, Waragi are alcoholic beverages
important in rural communities and social functions.
Statement of the problem
Since the 1987 economic recovery programme, the government of Uganda has put much emphasis on
increasing Agricultural productivity. The government has recruited graduate Agricultural officers for
Agricultural extension on most sub counties, Agricultural inputs such as improved seeds and animal breeds
have been provided, some feeder roads to ease transport of Agricultural outputs have been constructed and
expenditure on agriculture related programmes has been increasing to support Agricultural production since
the 1993/94 district budget.
Despite the efforts made to increase agricultural output, the per capita food output has been declining in
Ntungamo District with most families becoming less able to escape from famine (Three-year district
development plan, 2004/2007). There is therefore a need to investigate the factors that affect the
Agricultural output in a rural setting with a special emphasis on Ntungamo District.
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