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Abstract
Agriculture sustains the livelihoods of about 70.8% of Ugandans, while
common bean has emerged to be an important cash crop as well as a staple food for
the majority of farmers and consumers. Although Uganda’s bean output has more
than doubled, average bean yields in the country have been between 0.6 and 0.8 Mt
Ha-1, even though yields higher than 1.5 Mt Ha-1 can be realized with improved
varieties. Thusthe objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing
common beanproductivityand efficiency among smallholder farmers in Eastern
Uganda.The study was conducted in Busia, Mbale, Budaka and Tororo districts in
Eastern Uganda based on a sample of 280 householdsselected using a multi-stage
sampling technique. For the data collection, a personally administered structured
questionnaire was used to conduct interviews, with a focus on household heads. In the
analyses, descriptive statistics, a stochastic frontier modeland a two-limit Tobit
regression model were employed. It was established that bean productivity was
positively influenced by plot size, ordinary seeds, certified seeds and planting
fertilizers. The mean technical efficiency among bean farms was 48.2%, mean
economic efficiency was 59.94% and mean allocative efficiency was 29.37%. Finally,
Tobit model estimation revealed that technical efficiency was positively influenced by
value of assets at 1% level and extension service and group membership at 5% level;
while age and distance to the factor market negatively influenced technical efficiency
at 10% and 5% levels respectively. Economic efficiency was positively influenced by
value of assets at 1% level and off-farm income and credit at 5% level. However,
farmers’ primary occupation negativelyinfluenced economic efficiency at 5% level.
Allocative efficiency was positively influenced by value of assets at 1% level and
farm size and off-farm income at 10% level; while distance to the factor market
negatively influenced allocative efficiency at 5% level.Hence the study recommended
on the need for increased provision of extension service and training on correct input
application and improved farming technologies to increase bean productivity. It also
suggested on the need for policy to discourage land fragmentation, develop road and
market infrastructure in rural areas and provide affordable and easily available credit
facilities to improve production efficiency of bean farms.