Impact of cassava innovations on household productivity and welfare in Uganda

Agriculture remains the mainstay of Uganda’s economy, employing its majority population and contributing significantly to its GDP. Cassava is a national priority crop for Uganda and remains a globally competitive source of food, nutrition and income security as well as an industrial commodity due to its unique attributes. However, its productivity remains inadequate due to low technology uptake, dysfunctional seed systems, poor farmer organisation and policy failures. Motivated by several problematized research gaps, this study carried out an empirical investigation to answer seven research questions: (a) what are the causal determinants of participation in cassava Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) initiatives? (b) what is the impact of participation in cassava AIS interventions on cassava productivity and household welfare? (c) what are the causal factors influencing the choice of cassava seed access sources? (d) what are the determinants of cassava technology adoption? (e) what is the impact of improved-uncertified cassava seed adoption on cassava productivity and household welfare? (f) what is the impact of improved-certified cassava seed adoption on cassava productivity and household welfare? (g) do different impact estimation strategies yield consistent impact estimates? This study used cassava stem and root yield as measures of productivity while household welfare was measured using cassava cash income and household total consumption expenditure both adjusted to per capita levels using Adult Equivalent Units. The results indicate that educated households and those that belong to other forms of farmer groups were more likely to join AIS initiatives than their less educated counterparts and those that do not belong to other groups. Propensity Score Matching results reveal that participation in AIS initiatives enhances cassava productivity and household welfare outcomes. Agricultural Innovation Platform (AIP) members were more likely to adopt production enhancing inputs such as improved certified seed. Promotion of AIS approaches is advised. Farmer perceptions about the use of improved certified seed and seed sources, household decision-making and input access shocks influence farmers’ choice of a given seed source. It is recommended that both state and non-state actors should fund decentralized cassava seed multiplication centers. AIP membership, access to extension services, land size, education, family size, and age of the household head are some of the causal determinants of adoption and adoption intensity of cassava technologies. The study also obtained consistent results from Ordinary Least Squares, PSM and Endogenous Switching Regression that use of improved certified cassava seed is productivity- and welfare-enhancing. Finally, the study has contributed to knowledge by providing one of the first sets of empirical evidence to support spousal roles in household decision-making, use of AIS concepts in technology promotion, importance of seed inspection and certification programmes in Uganda. The study has also contributed to the knowledge and literature on impact of agricultural technology adoption by extending robust methodologies to the previously neglected but all-important cassava commodity