Farmers’ Participation in Food Supply and Food Security Among the House Holds of Mbarara and Isingiro Districts, Western Uganda

ABSTRACT The study investigated the relationship between farmers’ participation in food aid supply and food security among the households of Mbarara and Isingiro Districts, Western Uganda. The study was guided by three objectives namely, to determine; 1) the extent to which farmers in Mbarara participate in food aid supply; 2) the extent of food security among the households; and 3) whether participation in food supply affects food security among farmers in Mbarara and Isingiro districts. A descriptive correlational and cross sectional survey design was used to collect data from 120 farmers, using a self-administered questionnaire and interview guide. Analysis was done using frequency counts, means and Pearson’s Linear Correlation Coefficient. The findings indicated a generally high extent of farmers’ participate in food aid supply (overall mean2.91) and a generally satisfactory extent of food security (overall mean=2.90), There was a positive and significant correlation between farmers’ participation in food aid supply and the extent of food security (r=0.473, Sig.0.000). The study concurred with the Oxfam food security theory by Dilley (1992) stating that Food security is a dynamic idea that has undergone significant transformations in its conceptual lifetime and the most significant being the shift from an initial view of food security as a product of reliable supplies to the growing contemporary emphasis on food and as a single input in diffuse of local lively-hood strategies. The researcher recommends that; farmers in Mbarara and Isingiro districts should improve on their farming methods, use high quality agricultural breeds, apply ilTigation methods during their farming activities and the Government of Uganda should provide free and high quality agricultural breeds to them. Further research can be carried out on quantity of food supplied and the extent of food security among farmers in Mbarara and Isingiro districts.

TABLE OF CONTENT

LITERATURE REVIEW .10

2.0 Introduction .10

2.1 Farmers’ participation in food supply 10

2.1.2 Food security among famers participating in food aid supply 11

2.1.4 Challenges experienced by farmers in their participation in food supply 13

Related studies 20

CHAPTER THREE 23

METHODOLOGY 23

3.1 Research Design 23

3.2 Research population 23

3.3 Sample size 24

3.4 Sampling Techniques 24

3.5 Measurement of study variables 24

3.6 Research instruments 25

3.7 Validity and reliability of the instruments 26

3.8 Data Gathering Procedures 26

3.9 Data analysis 26

3.10 Ethical Considerations 27

3.11 Limitations of the Study 27

CHAPTER FOUR 29

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS 29

4.0 Introduction 29

4.2 Extent of farmers’ participation in food supply 30

4.3 Extent of Food security 33

CHAPTER FIVE 41

DISCUSSIONS, CONLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .41

5.0 Introduction 41

5.1 Discussions 41

5.2 Conclusions 44

5.3 Recommendation 45

Areas for further research 45

REFERENCES 46

APPENDICES 50

APPENDIX I: RESEARCH INSTRUMENT 50

APPENDIX II: R.V. Krejcie and D.W Morgan(1970), Determine sample size 54