Certification Programmes for Organic Farming in Uganda: An Economic Analysis

Uganda has implemented certification programmes for organic farming to promote sustainable agricultural practices among small-scale farmers. These programmes aim to reduce environmental degradation and enhance food security while also offering economic benefits. The research employs a mixed-method approach combining quantitative data from surveys with qualitative insights through interviews. Econometric techniques are used to estimate the effects of certification participation on farmer incomes using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis. Survey results indicate that certified farmers experienced an average income increase of 15% over conventional farming, though variance exists among different regions and types of crops. The findings suggest that while certification programmes offer significant economic benefits, there is room for improvement in terms of cost-effectiveness and accessibility to these services for small-scale farmers. Future research should explore ways to reduce the costs associated with certification, potentially by fostering partnerships between government agencies and private sector entities. Additionally, efforts should be made to expand programme coverage geographically and among different crop types. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.