PARTICIPATION IN CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WELLBEING OF YOUNG FARMERS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES IN UGANDA
Open Access
- Author:
- Agole, David
- Graduate Program:
- Agricultural and Extension Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- February 23, 2018
- Committee Members:
- Dr. Connie D. Baggett, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Dr. Connie D. Baggett, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Dr. Mark A. Brennan, Committee Member
Dr. Edgar P. Yoder, Committee Member
Sinfree B. Makoni, Outside Member - Keywords:
- Disability
Young Farmers
Participation
Capacity Building
Well-being
Community - Abstract:
- ABSTRACT This research study comparatively examined participation in capacity-building programs and the implications for the well-being of young farmers with and without disabilities in Northern and Eastern Uganda. The study employed a comparative, mixed methodology, cross-sectional research design involving 774 young farmers composed of 388 with disabilities and 386 who had no disabilities. The sample selection strategies involved the use of a stratified, random and criterion purposive sampling techniques. This research utilized an interviewer-administered paper survey, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews in collecting data. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used in analysing quantitative data. Qualitative data helped to validate quantitative findings using Seldana’s framework for coding and analysis. The findings indicated that many young farmers with disabilities are male (65.5%), 20 to 29 years old, married (55.4%), and attained a primary school education (59.8%). Most households had at least one person with a disability (71.1%). Many young farmers have an innate disability (69.6%), and most experienced moderate (52.1%) to severe (34.2%) limitations to participation in daily life activities. A majority of the young farmers have a disability caused by accidents (48.7%), disease (18.5), and gunshots/landmines/civil wars (17.6%). Many young farmers with limb disabilities were innate (25.8%) and acquired (19.1%). Most disabilities were linked with loss of limbs (20.1%), or from burns (9.3%), loss of hearing (5.7%), and loss of vision (4.4%) among those aged 20 to 29 years. However, there were no statistically significant associations between the causes of disability among young farmers across the various age categories. There were statistically significant associations (Cramer’s V = .148; p = .043) between the types of disabilities among young farmers across the various age categories; however, no association existed between region and type of disability. There were no statistically significant associations between causes of disability among young farmers and age of acquisition of disability in Uganda Many young farmers with disabilities (48.7%) and without disabilities (43.9%) were self-employed (55.6%) in subsistence agriculture. However, people with disabilities were less engaged in vocational trades due to a lack of skills and competencies. There was no statistically significant differences in employment sectors for young farmers with and without disabilities. Most young farmers with disabilities (52.3%) earned income comparable to that earned by young farmers without disabilities (47.7%), with a greater proportion of young farmers with disabilities in Northern Uganda (35.7%) earning incomes comparable to those with disabilities in Eastern Uganda (16.4%). In contrast, a slightly greater proportion of young farmers without disabilities (26.3%) in Eastern Uganda earned income compared to their counterparts in Northern Uganda (25.2%). There was a statistically significant association in the regularity of income earned by young farmers with and without disabilities in Eastern Uganda as well as in Northern Uganda. Further, for agricultural production needs, disability, value addition, and market demonstrated evidence of a statistically significant negative impact on food security. However, there was a statistically significant positive association between being from Northern Uganda, money, improved animals, agricultural information and food security. Furthermore, for social capital; disability demonstrated a statistically significant negative relationship with food security. However, in Northern Uganda, talking to people outside the family, traveling to places outside the community of residence had a statistically significant positive influence on food security. In terms of poverty trap, disability has a statistically significant negative relationship with food security. While adequacy of food eaten in a meal, level of satisfaction with food eaten in a meal, and level of food availability in a household have a statistically significant positive relationship with food security. In addition, for social exclusion; disability and group membership have a statistically significant negative relationship with food security whereas Northern Uganda has a statistically significant positive relationship with food insecurity. In addition, young farmers with a disability and being contacted face-to-face were less likely to participate in community capacity-building programs. In contrast, for farmers in Northern Uganda, those contacted in a group setting, application of sign language interpretation, being female, and having supportive training staff increased the chances of their participation in community capacity-building programs. Moreover, having a disability, satisfaction with the amount of food eaten in a meal, interaction with people outside the family, feeling of belonging, and highest level of education have a statistically significant positive relationship with well-being of young farmers. In contrast, active participation in training and being female had a statistically significant negative association with well-being of young farmers. In order to navigate difficult social-cultural terrain to function fully in their communities, young farmers with disabilities employ self-disability awareness, self-created positive self-image, building social network beyond disability-related, competitive behaviors, and forming disability-groups. Therefore, the researcher recommends disability-inclusive programming and the use of evidence-based disability-inclusive programming as a criterion for funding capacity-building programs, enforcement of disability policies, retooling extension and community educators, and integrating disability in training curricular for extension and community educators.