An enabling environment with clear, inclusive, and transparent seed laws, policies, regulations, and guidelines is the foundation for an efficient and effective seed sector. If well designed and implemented, the legal and regulatory framework can facilitate market diversification, supervision…
Respiratory diseases contribute significant economic losses to the swine industry globally. In Uganda, no detailed studies on pig respiratory pathogens have been undertaken previously. This doctoral thesis aimed to fill knowledge gaps on epidemiology of important respiratory pathogens, gastro-…
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies have great potential to minimize climate risks, sequester carbon, improve food security, and achievement of Sustainable Intensification (SI) goals. This makes their adoption a necessity for achieving sustainable agricultural systems. Despite the…
Given the challenges brought about by the increasing frequency of climatic stressors (droughts) and other biotic challenges (pests and diseases), breeding for tolerance to these traits is now seen as an indispensable adjunct to the enhancement of yield potential. Drought tolerant (DT) maize…
The manual is designed to assist the reader with information about soybean value chain and its management in times of climate change. It is comprised of six chapters of coordinated content as summarized below. First chapter of this manual is focused on the soybean and its development and also…
Beef is a major source of animal protein across the globe and its consumptions increases annually. Globally beef consumption is expected to reach 72 million t by 2025 from 70 million t in 2021 (OECD–FAO 2021). In Africa annual beef production was over 45 million kgs in each of 26 countries (…
The quest to transform and hasten the role of smallholder farms in agricultural development and food security through farmer firm linkages has dominated development interventions in low-income countries for several decades. This has mostly been pursued through single- or multi-contract schemes…
Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) is a destructive disease caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum (Xvm) bacterium that indiscriminately infects all banana varieties grown in East and Central Africa (ECA). In this region, BXW was first reported in 2001 in Uganda and was projected to eliminate…
This paper draws implications for understanding the link between empowerment and resilience among rural and smallholder agricultural communities in developing contexts. While existing evidence shows that women’s empowerment promotes their individual and household well-being, women smallholder…
Evidence of women’s participation in value chains is greater on the production side, but scanty in downstream nodes, pointing to women being relegated to unprofitable activities. The consequence is suboptimal value chain performance with wide gender gaps in productivity, income, household food…
Agricultural expansion-led deforestation in Uganda is one of the highest of the world. At the same time, internal migration patterns are strongly inter-linked with agricultural dynamics in the country, as migrants are involved in crop production activities and traditionally play important roles…
Recently, issues related to the (perceived) quality of inputs and technologies have been proposed as an important constraint to their adoption by smallholder farmers in low income countries. Taking maize seed embodying genetic gain as a case, we train random agro-dealers to test whether under-…