Impact of Smallholder Tea Production in Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District.
Tea production is a significant contributor to the economy of Uganda, providing employment opportunities for thousands of households and generating substantial foreign exchange earnings. However, little is known about the specific impact of smallholder tea farming on the socio- economic development...
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| Language: | English |
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Kabale University
2025
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/2811 |
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| author | Kyarisiima, Leticia |
| author_facet | Kyarisiima, Leticia |
| author_sort | Kyarisiima, Leticia |
| collection | KAB-DR |
| description | Tea production is a significant contributor to the economy of Uganda, providing employment opportunities for thousands of households and generating substantial foreign exchange earnings. However, little is known about the specific impact of smallholder tea farming on the socio- economic development of local communities. This study aims to assess the impact of smallholder tea production on the socio-economic development of Buhunga Sub-county, Rukungiri District, Uganda. The study employs a mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. A structured questionnaire was administered to 200 smallholder tea farmers selected through stratified random sampling. The questionnaire gathered data on demographic characteristics, income levels, investments in education and healthcare, and challenges faced by farmers. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were also conducted with key informants, including community leaders and agricultural extension workers. The findings indicate that tea production generates moderate levels of income for smallholder farmers, with the majority (45%) earning between 500,001 and 1,000,000 UGX annually. This income has a positive impact on household investments in education and healthcare, with an average of 300,000 UGX and 200,000 UGX respectively being spent in these areas. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.78, p < 0.01) between income levels and investments in education, as well as a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.65, p < 0.01) between income levels and healthcare investments. However, smallholder tea farmers face several challenges, including limited access to quality inputs, market price fluctuations, and inadequate infrastructure. Gender disparities were also observed, with female farmers facing barriers in accessing resources and decision-making power. Qualitative insights highlighted the positive impact of tea production on community development, with farmers reporting reinvestment of their earnings into local infrastructure, such as schools and health clinics. The study concludes that while tea production plays a significant role in enhancing household income and socio-economic outcomes, addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and promoting gender equity is crucial for maximizing the benefits of tea farming. By supporting smallholder tea farmers and investing in critical areas like education and healthcare, stakeholders can contribute to sustainable community development in Buhunga Sub-county and beyond. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:idr.kab.ac.ug:20.500.12493-2811 |
| institution | KAB-DR |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Kabale University |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oai:idr.kab.ac.ug:20.500.12493-28112025-01-17T00:01:00Z Impact of Smallholder Tea Production in Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District. Kyarisiima, Leticia Impact Smallholder Tea Production Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District Tea production is a significant contributor to the economy of Uganda, providing employment opportunities for thousands of households and generating substantial foreign exchange earnings. However, little is known about the specific impact of smallholder tea farming on the socio- economic development of local communities. This study aims to assess the impact of smallholder tea production on the socio-economic development of Buhunga Sub-county, Rukungiri District, Uganda. The study employs a mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. A structured questionnaire was administered to 200 smallholder tea farmers selected through stratified random sampling. The questionnaire gathered data on demographic characteristics, income levels, investments in education and healthcare, and challenges faced by farmers. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were also conducted with key informants, including community leaders and agricultural extension workers. The findings indicate that tea production generates moderate levels of income for smallholder farmers, with the majority (45%) earning between 500,001 and 1,000,000 UGX annually. This income has a positive impact on household investments in education and healthcare, with an average of 300,000 UGX and 200,000 UGX respectively being spent in these areas. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.78, p < 0.01) between income levels and investments in education, as well as a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.65, p < 0.01) between income levels and healthcare investments. However, smallholder tea farmers face several challenges, including limited access to quality inputs, market price fluctuations, and inadequate infrastructure. Gender disparities were also observed, with female farmers facing barriers in accessing resources and decision-making power. Qualitative insights highlighted the positive impact of tea production on community development, with farmers reporting reinvestment of their earnings into local infrastructure, such as schools and health clinics. The study concludes that while tea production plays a significant role in enhancing household income and socio-economic outcomes, addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and promoting gender equity is crucial for maximizing the benefits of tea farming. By supporting smallholder tea farmers and investing in critical areas like education and healthcare, stakeholders can contribute to sustainable community development in Buhunga Sub-county and beyond. 2025-01-16T16:23:09Z 2025-01-16T16:23:09Z 2024 Thesis Kyarisiima, Leticia (2024). Impact of Smallholder Tea Production in Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District. Kabale: Kabale University. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/2811 en Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ application/pdf Kabale University |
| spellingShingle | Impact Smallholder Tea Production Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District Kyarisiima, Leticia Impact of Smallholder Tea Production in Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District. |
| title | Impact of Smallholder Tea Production in Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District. |
| title_full | Impact of Smallholder Tea Production in Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District. |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Smallholder Tea Production in Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Smallholder Tea Production in Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District. |
| title_short | Impact of Smallholder Tea Production in Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District. |
| title_sort | impact of smallholder tea production in buhunga sub county rukungiri district |
| topic | Impact Smallholder Tea Production Buhunga Sub-County Rukungiri District |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/2811 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kyarisiimaleticia impactofsmallholderteaproductioninbuhungasubcountyrukungiridistrict |