Determinants of Households’ Land Allocation for Crop Production in Uganda

Abstract

Using UNHS 2005/6 and 2009/10 data, we examined various cropping and land allocations patterns practiced by farming households in Uganda, and their implications on government plan of prioritizing some crops for expansion and zoning. On average, households were observed to cultivate 1.7 ha despite having ownership right to 1.58 ha. A decrease in total cultivated area across all the twelve sub-regions was observed between 2005 and 2009. Over time, only the proportions of land allocation to sweet potato and bean are increasing. Fractional multinomial logit model estimates showed that significant factors that influence share of land allocated to crops include household location within sub-regions, size of cultivated land, distance to output markets and education levels of household head. Efforts to commercialize agriculture through prioritized expansion and zoning of certain crops should also target breaking the current culture of diversified cropping patterns on small sizes of land.

Socioeconomic determinants of farm household land allocation for grass pea production in North Wollo Zone of Amhara region, Ethiopia

“…However, our results showed that the probability of growing grass pea is statistically significant (P < 0.05) and lower for heads in secondary school compared to illiterate counterparts. Our results are thus in line with Mwaura and Adong (2016) who also reported that the education status of household heads determines decision of crop to be cultivated. This may also be induced from the fact that better educated heads are aware of the health impacts of grass pea dependency.…”

“…This implies that farmers who have more land allocate more area for grass pea cultivation. In this regard, Hillocks and Maruthi (2012) and Mwaura and Adong (2016) have also confirmed the influence of households' farmland holding size determining the type of crop to be cultivated. Considering the current state of Ethiopian market, farmers with large farmland size, could benefit more if they shift to production of cash crops such as chick pea, as compared to sticking to production of grass pea.…”

“…Household wealth and income are expected to reduce land use for grass pea but the effect of livestock ownership and landholding is expected to be positive because grass pea straw is used for cattle feeding. Following Hillocks and Maruthi (2012) and Mwaura and Adong (2016), landholding size is a key factor affecting household decision on the choice of crop type grown. Higher level of education is hypothesised to reduce land use for grass pea since it improves people's knowledge and awareness of the repercussion of grass pea use (Getahuna et al, 2002).…”

“…For this, farmers' decision on allocation of agricultural land to different types of crops (including grass pea) is influenced by a combination of factors. Among others, these can include socioeconomic-e.g., marketing (Mwaura and Adong, 2016); policies and strategies; physiology of crops and its resistance to environmental hazards such as pests and droughts (Wu and Brorsen, 1995;Coxhead and Demeke, 2004), as well as other production factors such as access to agricultural inputs, extension and credit services (Chibwana et al, 2012;Gebresilassie and Bekele, 2015).…”

“…There are also other socioeconomic factors that can influence household land use decision for crop production, such as of grass pea. These include: household size, age, dependency factor, education status and income of households (Mwaura and Adong, 2016), landholding size (Hillocks and Maruthi, 2012;Mwaura and Adong, 2016), access to credit (Nguyen et al, 2017) and available farm extension services (Greig, 2009). However, to what extent and how these factors determine household decision on land allocation for grass peas production is less understood, particularly in Ethiopia.…”