Farmer Preferences for Attributes of Conservation Agriculture in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

Conservation agriculture has many potential benefits for small farmers. This study seeks to estimate the value that farmers in eastern Uganda place on some these benefits. Data from a choice experiment study are analyzed with a mixed logit model to determine farmers' willingness to pay for increases in maize yield, reductions in erosion, and reductions in land preparation labor requirements. It finds that farmers have a statistically significant willingness to pay for increases in yield and reductions in erosion, but not for reductions in planting labor. In addition, farmers in Kapchorwa district value erosion control and labor reductions more and price increases less than in Tororo district, while women care more about price increases than men do.