Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Robusta Coffee Technologies in Uganda

Abstract. This paper draws from a cross sectional survey of 252 coffee households and 8 key informants to examine the economic, farmer and institutional factors influencing adoption of improved Robusta coffee production technologies in Uganda. Data was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. A logit model was estimated to ascertain the factors and their influence on adoption of improved coffee production technologies. Results revealed that access to credit, availability of off-farm income, level of education, labor availability and access to extension services significantly influenced adoption. Size of land holding, gender and age (of farmer) had no significant influence on adoption, suggesting that improved coffee technologies are mostly scale, gender and age-neutral. It was concluded that coffee households’ agricultural technology adoption decisions depend on their economic circumstances, farmer characteristic and institutional effectiveness. Keywords: Economic factors; Farmer characteristics; Institutional factor