Increasing the efficiency of the dairy value chain in Uganda: Determinants of choice of milk marketing channels by dairy farmers in Kiruhura District, Uganda

摘要

Sincethe1990s,theUgandandairysectorhasbeenexperiencingcontinuousgrowth.However,thesectorhasremainedlargelyinformalintermsofmilkmarketing.Duetothis,governmentthroughDairyDevelopmentAuthority(DDA)andotherstakeholderssuchastheAgShareprojecthavebeencarryingoutseveralactivitiessuchasfarmers#8217;andtraders#8217;trainingsonqualityandquantityofmilkproduction,handling,andmarketing.Emphasishasbeenonpromotionofformalmilkmarketingfromfarmgatetofinalconsumers.Therefore,thepurposeofthisstudywastodeterminefactorsinfluencingfarmers#8217;choicesandthetotalproportionsofmilksoldtotheformalmilkmarketingchannelbydairyfarmers.ThisstudywasconductedinKiruhuradistrictaspartoftheAgShareprojectthatwasimplementedbyMakerereUniversityinUganda.Withtheassistanceofdistrictproductionandveterinaryofficers,andvillagechairpersons,240farmerswererandomlyselectedtoparticipateinthestudy.ProbitandcensoredTobitregressionmodelresultsrevealedthemostsignificantdeterminantsofformalmarketingchoiceandthetotalmilkproportionssoldtoformalchannelwere(respectively)householdsize,totalvolumeofmilkproduced,paymentperiod,sourceofmarketinformation,milksellingpriceanddistancetothemilkcollectioncenters.Thestudyrecommendedpublicinvestmentininfrastructuresuchasroadsandruralelectrificationtoeaseestablishmentofmilkcoolersnearertodairyfarmerstoparticipateintheformalchannel.Onthesideofthefarmers,formationofmoredairycooperativesforcollectivemarketingsupplementedbyqualityandquantitymilkproductionandhandlingtailoredextensionandtrainingactivitiesshouldbeintensifiedbygovernmentandotherdairydevelopmentpartners.