Date of Completion

5-6-2016

Embargo Period

5-10-2016

Advisors

Dr. Nathan Fiala; Dr. Charles Towe

Field of Study

Agricultural and Resource Economics

Degree

Master of Science

Open Access

Open Access

Abstract

The international community has successfully developed improved varieties of seeds that yield high returns in the presence of drought, pests, and disease. This effort is in response to the persistent concern of food security, especially in regions that are most vulnerable to climate change. This study uses cross-sectional data from the World Bank Living Standards Measurement Survey to obtain estimates for the adoption of improved groundnut varieties (IGVs) in Uganda as well as gaps in farmer managerial capacity (alternatively known as technical inefficiency). To do so, this study employs an adoption logit model, in conjunction with a stochastic production frontier framework. The analysis indicates that adoption is lower than what has been previously estimated in the literature, and that regional factors play a strong role. Results also show that the use of IGVs is positively correlated with production but that large gaps remain in technical efficiency among groundnut farmers.

Major Advisor

Dr. Boris Bravo-Ureta

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