Abstract:
This study sought to assess the factors influencing improved potato varietal choice in
south western highland agro-ecological zone of Uganda.The study examined the
drivers of potato varietal choice and varietal change using data collected from 147
households randomly selected from South Western Highlands of Uganda, a leading
potato producing region. The study identified most cultivated
or preferred potato varieties by farmers, determined varietal attributes that influence farmer’s choice of Potato varieties and factors influencing farmers decisions to change varieties planted
from season to season. Results reveal that the two majorly grown potato varieties are Rwangume (32%). However, potato farmers Kinigi (46%) and are changing from old, improved varieties to old, improved varieties rather than to the newly improved ones. Varietal change is driven by seed system factors mainly distance to the seed source.