Establishment and commercialization of a small-scale integrated cassava-processing enterprise in Lira District, Uganda.

Project purpose

·        To link rural economies to growth markets in a profitable and sustainable way,
·        To promote the diversification of rural production, and
·        To generate higher incomes while reducing agricultural production losses.

Progress to date

Conducted:

A needs and constraints assessment of cassava marketing in Lira district was conducted using rapid reconnaissance methods, which involved secondary data collection and organization, and informal interviews with key informants who included district political leaders, contact farmers and traders.

Outputs of this activity included

·        A socio-economic profile of the study area,

·        Identified the importance of cassava in Uganda and the study area,

·        Compiled a list of the food markets in Lira both spatially and temporally,

·        Identified constraints faced during production, utilization and marketing of cassava in Lira, and

·        Highlighted key researchable areas in the cassava food system matrix.

Ongoing work:

Semi-structured questionnaires have been designed for cassava producers, processors and traders.  A formal survey of 120 cassava farmers, and 80 cassava traders in Lira district is ongoing and half of the respondents have been interviewed and data analysis has been initiated.  A follow up of the marketing chain have led to interviewing participants in the neighbouring district of Nakasongola and the final destination of Kampala.  Issues being investigated include processing, utilization and marketing of cassava at the various market levels.

Output of the survey will include quantification and qualification of constraints, and needs in the cassava food system matrix with a view to improving the efficiency of cassava marketing.