Economic evaluation of soybean genotypes under soil fertility variability in northern and eastern Uganda

Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merrill) is an important crop in Uganda as it is the cheapest source of plant protein and income to farmers. Despite breeding for high yielding and disease tolerant soybean genotypes, there has not been a significant increase in production in the recent years. In addition, farmers’ preferences and heterogeneity of farmers’ fields have been neglected. This study was conducted to establish farmers’ preference and profitability of the soybean genotypes in varying soil fertility management of smallholder farms. The study was conducted in Northern and Eastern Uganda where soybean on-farm experimental plots had been set up. A random sample size of 240 farmers participated in the study. Matrix ranking method and logistic preference ranking analysis tool were used to determine farmer’s preference for soybean genotypes. Profitability of soybean genotypes was established and compared using the partial budget approach and marginal rates of return. Results indicated that in both regions, Maksoy 3N and Maksoy 1N were the most preferred soybean genotypes with Maksoy 3N being the most preferred in Northern region whereas Maksoy 1N in Eastern. There was a significant difference in farmer’s preference of soybean genotypes across and within field types at 1% level in both regions. Consistent results were obtained using a logistic regression tool which indicated that Maksoy 3N and Maksoy 1N had positive intercepts and their chi-square values were significantly different (p<0.15) from zero implying that they had a strong likelihood of acceptance by farmers in both regions. In either regions, soybean production is profitable (MRR above 100%) but profitability varies with different fertilizer levels. The most profitable genotype in Northern Uganda was Namsoy 4M whereas in Eastern Uganda it was Maksoy 3N. However, considering specific field types of Northern Uganda, Maksoy 3N was the most profitable genotype in good fields whereas Maksoy 3N was most profitable in both medium and poor fields. In Eastern Uganda, Maksoy 1N was most profitable across all the field types. Application of rhizobia and phosphorus at rates between 5kg ha-1 and 10 kg ha-1 was most profitable across field types. It is therefore recommended that, targeting of soybean genotypes should consider farmers’ preferences, heterogeneity in soil fertility and appropriate nutrient management in soybean production.