Assessment of marketing channels for crops, livestock and their products and inputs for agricultural production in south eastern Uganda..PDF

This report is an output from a study conducted in August 2003. The FITCA Project is introducing a number of interventions, aimed at decreasing losses in productivity due to animal trypanosomosis, while at the same time increasing household incomes for the primary beneficiaries/stakeholders, the livestock keepers. It is therefore critical to assess the main constraints to marketing of agricultural produce in the region where the project is operational. This activity therefore assesses the demand and supply for agricultural inputs and produce (identifies the marketing and distribution channels for inputs (seeds, animal drugs, fertilizers etc), as well as the outlets for agricultural produce (live animals, milk, hides and skins, draft power, eggs etc) in the project area and, the institutional framework available at the district for promotion of agricultural marketing and the storage and agro-processing practices and infrastructure available at household and community levels. The report provides an assessment of marketing channels for crops, livestock and their products, and inputs for agricultural production in six districts of south eastern Uganda. It gives an overview of the main crop and livestock enterprises in the six districts, production levels and the current market situation, with specific reference to structure of the markets, constraints and opportunities. It also assesses the demand and supply of agricultural inputs, with specific emphasis on the procurement pathways, utilization of inputs by farmers and constraints faced in delivering these inputs. Also documented in the report is an assessment of processing and storage of agricultural produce in the region. Lastly, the report examines the strategies for marketing of agricultural products with a closer look at the institutional framework available at district level for the promotion of agricultural marketing. The study was largely qualitative, and the methodology used was based on rapid assessment techniques using both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through interviews with respondents at district and community level, while secondary data was obtained from literature review and analysis of available data. Data analysis is mainly descriptive with most of the data being presented in table.