Characterization of smallholder pig production systems in Uganda: constraints and opportunities for engaging with market systems

摘要

Pigproductionhasincreasinglybecomeanimportantactivity,especiallyamongsmallholderfarmersinUgandainthepastthreedecadesasevidencedbyadramaticriseinpigpopulationfrom0.19to3.2million.Thisislinkedtotheriseindemandforporkduetochangesinpreferences.Percapitaconsumptionofporkhasbeenestimatedat3.4kg/person/yearrepresentingaten-foldincreaseinthelast30years.PigsareimportantassetsforthepoorsmallholdersinUgandageneratingincomeformeetingplannedandemergencyhouseholdfinancialneeds.Despiteitsimportance,thesmallholderpigsystemsarefacedwithanumberofproductivityandmarketrelatedconstraintsrangingfromdiseases,poornutritionandpoorlyorganizedmarkets.Stronggrowthopportunitiestoimprovesmallholderpigsystemsexistiftheconstraintsareminimized.Howevertheconstraintsandopportunitiesvaryamongsmallholderproducersastheyarenotahomogenousgroupandareaffectedbyvariousfactors.ThispaperappliesaclusteranalysistocharacterizesmallholderpigproductionsystemsintotypologiesinthreedistrictsinUgandabyutilizingvillageleveldatafrom35villages.Thepaperfurtherexplorestheconstraintsandopportunitiesforthedifferenttypologiestoengagewithoutputandinputmarketsystems.Thepaperconcludesthatdifferentinterventionsarenecessarytoimprovemarketlinkageswiththesmallholderpigproductionsystemsduetotheirvaryingdifferencesintermsoffarmers#8217;cooperativeinvolvement,institutionallinkagesandintensificationrelatedindicators.