Abstract:

This study examined factors affecting farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technologies in Uganda with specific reference to banana production in Mukono District. This was in light of the fact that since 1989, a number of banana production technologies had been developed by NARO researchers at Kawanda and disseminated to farmers for adoption. Despite the availability of the technologies, the rate of adoption was still very low and banana production had continued to decline. Across sectional survey design was used. Data were collected from
four sub-counties using a structured questionnaire. A total of 251 respondents were interviewed researchin
the four sub-counties. Face to face interview with key informants in the four sub-counties were also carried out. The results showed that the most important factors associated with adoption of agricultural technologies in banana production were; Institutional (p = .000), gender (p = 0.002) and economic factors (p = 0.020). However, Age (p = 0.26) and education (P -0.198) were not significant factors. From the study therefore, it was concluded that, research extension contact with the farmer was inadequate. Available evidence indicated that there was
were expensive. The following recommendations were made; Participatory research should be
encouraged, researchers, extensionisl and farmers should work together irrespective of gender
and government should enforce formation of farmer cooperative societies which should be
mandated to purchase agricultural inputs directly from source and supply them to farmers on
credit and at a relatively fair price. The number of extension agents per sub-county should be
increased from one to at least three and formation of farmer field schools should be encouraged.

with specific reference to banana production in Mukono District. This was in light of
no gender balance during technology dissemination and the biological and chemical technologies