Agronomic Practices, Favored Traits and Constraints of Cocoyam Production in the Southwestern Highlands Agro ecological Zone of Uganda

Abstract

Although often neglected in agricultural research and development, Cocoyam (Xanthosomasagittifolium) possesses considerable potential to improve household food and nutrition security while strengthening the resilience of small holder farming systems. However, empirical evidence on farmers’ production practices, preferred production traits, and production constraints remains limited in Uganda. This study assessed production practices, preferred production traits, and production constraints among cocoyam farmers in the Southwestern Highlands Agro ecological Zone of Uganda. Across sectional survey involving 317 cocoyam farmers was conducted in Kabale and Kanungu districts using a multi stage sampling approach. Data were collected using semi structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. Cocoyam was predominantly cultivated in mixed cropping systems, mainly intercropped with banana, beans, and coffee under low-input smallholder agriculture. Suckers were the most preferred planting material, although farmers relied primarily on their own gardens and farmer-to-farmer exchange, highlighting the dominance of informal seed systems. Preference for large planting materials reduced the likelihood of selecting suckers (AOR=0.09, 95%CI:0.03–0.29) but increased the likelihood of selecting headsets (AOR=3.29,95%CI:1.45–7.51). Production practices difered significantly between the two agro ecological zones, with Kanungu characterized by greater use of wetlands, dry-season planting, ridge and line planting, mono cropping and corms and cormelsas planting materials, whereas Kabale exhibited greater fertilizer use, mixed cropping, and reliance on suckers. Larger cocoyam land size increased the likelihood of intercropping with coffee (AOR=3.82,95%CI: 2.15–6.78) but reduced the likelihood of intercropping with beans (AOR=0.36,95%CI:0.21–0.61). Pest and disease incidence was generally low, while piece meal harvesting and prolonged in-soil storage after maturity reflected the crop’s importance as a living food reserve. Farmers prioritized drought tolerance, intercropping suitability, extended field longevity, and tolerance to poor soils as the most desirable production traits. The principal constraints were land shortage, lack of improved varieties, and limited access to quality planting materials, declining soil fertility, and inadequate extension services. This study provides the first comprehensive empirical assessment of cocoyam production systems across contrasting agro ecological environments in southwestern Uganda. The findings demonstrate that cocoyam is well adapted to diversified, low-input farming systems but that its productivity is constrained by a weak seed and extension systems and limited varietal improvement. The results provide evidence to guide farmer-oriented breeding, formal seed system development, and extension interventions aimed at improving cocoyam productivity and resilience in smallholder farming systems.