The contribution of trust in quality groundnuts seed selection and sourcing among small-holder farmers in Uganda

Abstract

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study on the contribution of trust in quality groundnuts seedselection and sourcing among small holder farmers in Uganda. The study documents the role of trust in farmer’s (male/female) preferences for good quality seed attributes; trusted groundnut sources and explored reasons for trust of these sources. The study was premised on Coleman’s Social Capital Theory which posits that individuals are embedded in a network of social relations, values and networks that influence their decisions and actions. These values and networks were therefore, explored to frame the choices made by groundnut farmers on seed selection. The study population comprised all groundnut farmers living in Kumi, Serere, Nwoya and Dokolo Districts of Uganda. Cochran (1963:75) formula was used to determine the sample size of 385 farmers however, due to the study’s purpose to only include farmers who had grown any of ICRISAT’s mandate crops (sorghum, finger millet, pigeon peas and groundnuts) in the last two seasons preceding the study, the final number that was included in the study for groundnut farmers was 286. Additionally, 86 farmers were engaged in the study distributed in 8 FGDs carried out in the same areas. Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were employed in the study where household surveys and focus group discussions were conducted respectively. Descriptive statistical and thematic analyses for quantitative and qualitative data were conducted. Frequency tables and graphical illustrations have been used to present quantitative findings that were analyzed using SPSS while verbatim quotes have been used alongside the main themes to present qualitative data. The findings indicate that trust, especially interpersonal trust among informal networks, is a central aspect of the seed selection and sourcing process among both male and female farmers from the North and East of Uganda. Cereal stockists were identified as the most trusted seed sources among both the male and female farmers in the two regions. This was due to their reliability in providing seeds with farmer desired attributes as well as the success farmers reported following their interactions with the stockists in the past. The physical attributes identified as part of quality seeds included; physical (color, taste and size); physiological (early maturity and ability to germinate); Genetic (high yielding, disease resistance and drought tolerance) and seed health. The study concludes that both forms of trust identified (interpersonal and trust in systems) form a critical component of the seed selection and sourcing process among both male and female farmers from both the Northern and Eastern region of Uganda. However, interpersonal trust seems to be dominant as is elaborated in their social networks which produce the most trusted seed sources who also seem to some extent drive definitions of quality seed attributes. Therefore, the study recommends the inclusion of farmer’s emic perspectives in any intervention that seeks to sustain the delivery of quality seed to farmers within the study areas.