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The use of certified sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) seed (CSS) was reported to unlock the yield potential of the crop leading to an over 80% yield increase. Despite the availability of elements of a formal CSS system, uptake in Uganda has remained dismal. Interdependence between farmer knowledge, perceptions, and purchase behaviors (PBs) is not well understood in a way that could allow the design of meaningful policies and interventions. This study aimed at unveiling factors underlying PB through purchase intention (PI) and willingness to pay (WTP) by interviewing 289 farmers from Omoro and Mpigi districts in Uganda, representing the low and high virus disease pressure zones, respectively. A modified theory of planned behavior (TPB) incorporating awareness as independent and farmer innovativeness as mediating variables expounded the relationships. Data were collected on perceptions, knowledge, innovativeness, and PI using a five‐point Likert scale plus WTP as a price, subjected to descriptive and structural equation modeling analysis. Results indicated significant locational differences in most socioeconomic characteristics. Middle income, CSS information access, and farming experience of 7–30 years conferred more likelihood of high PI. Conversely, high PI, group membership, and being female and middle‐aged increased the likelihood of high WTP. The effects of attitude, perceived behavioral control, and awareness were significant in high disease zone, while subjective norm was significant across disease zones. PI significantly affects WTP in high disease zone (p = 0.000) but its effect is insignificant in low disease zone (p = 0.569). An interplay of socioeconomic, perception, and knowledge attributes influences CSS PB calling for social marketing strategies with location‐specific interventions. Core Ideas: Farmer‐certified sweetpotato seed purchase intentions differ by disease pressure zone.A weak relationship exists between farmers' purchase intentions and their willingness to pay for certified sweetpotato seed.A modified theory of planned behavior predicts purchase decision‐making parameters for certified sweetpotato seed.Perceptions and awareness levels influence farmers' certified sweetpotato seed purchase behaviors.Area‐specific social marketing strategies can be adopted to spur certified sweetpotato seed purchases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most banana improvement programs are restricted to using a sub-set of edible landraces for sexual hybridization as the majority are female sterile. This results from an array of factors that work in tandem and lead to sterility. Use of pollen germination media (PGM) during pollination significantly increases seed set, but it is a very small fraction compared to the potential seed set. This research therefore explored early pollination (a day before anthesis), evening pollination, saline treatment, plant growth regulators (PGRs) treatment, and ovule culture as potential techniques for overcoming sterility in bananas. Early and evening pollinations did not increase seed set because of immature flowers and a mismatch of male and female flower opening, respectively (t-prob. = 0.735 and 0.884). Immersion of bunches in a saline solution before pollination and ovule culture also did not overcome pollination barriers. Auxin antagonists (TIBA and salicylic acid) increased seed set, though their respective increases were not statistically significant (t-prob. = 0.123 and 0.164, respectively). The use of auxin antagonists shows great potential for overcoming pollination barriers in bananas. However, application rates and time of application have to be optimized and used holistically with other promising techniques, such as use of PGM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed an extended theory of planned behaviour to assess the socio-psychological factors influencing farmers' willingness to continue participating (WTCP) in collaborative activities of community-based innovation platforms (CB-IPs). Using a structured questionnaire, data were obtained from a random sample of 231 farmers who had participated in collaborative activities of the CB-IPs. Data were analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling. Findings showed that although farmers' past-experience did not directly influence their WTCP in collaborative activities of CB-IPs, it was positive and significant when mediated by attitudes and perceived behavioural control (t-value = 6.840; p-value = 0.000). Therefore, it can be concluded that farmers' WTCP in collaborative activities of CB-IPs is enhanced by three socio-psychological factors: favourable past-experience, positive attitudes towards collaborative activities of CB-IPs, and farmers' perceived capacity to participate. Hence, conveners of collaborative activities of CB-IPs ought to improve farmers' attitudes through organizing beneficial activities and building their capacity to participate. This study contributed to the body of knowledge by using a behavioural perspective to examine the socio-psychological factors that influence farmers' continued participation in collaboration activities of CB-IPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed set in banana is influenced by weather, yet the key weather attributes and the critical period of influence are unknown. We therefore investigated the influence of weather during floral development for a better perspective of seed set increase. Three East African highland cooking bananas (EAHBs) were pollinated with pollen fertile wild banana ‘Calcutta 40 . At full maturity, bunches were harvested, ripened, and seeds extracted from fruit pulp. Pearson’s correlation analysis was then conducted between seed set per 100 fruits per bunch and weather attributes at 15-day intervals from 105 days before pollination (DBP) to 120 days after pollination (DAP). Seed set was positively correlated with average temperature (P < 0.05–P < 0.001, r = 0.196–0.487) and negatively correlated with relative humidity (RH) (P < 0.05–P < 0.001, r = −0.158–−0.438) between 75 DBP and the time of pollination. After pollination, average temperature was negatively correlated with seed set in ‘Mshale’ and ‘Nshonowa’ from 45 to 120 DAP (P < 0.05–P < 0.001, r = −0.213–−0.340). Correlation coefficients were highest at 15 DBP for ‘Mshale’ and ‘Nshonowa’, whereas for ‘Enzirabahima’, the highest were at the time of pollination. Maximum temperature as revealed by principal component analysis at the time of pollination should be the main focus for seed set increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield and protein performance in a soybean genotype result from its interaction with the prevailing environmental conditions. This makes selecting the best genotypes under varied target production environments more complex. This study's objectives were to determine protein content and protein stability of 30 elite soybean genotypes in major soybean-growing areas of Uganda, assess the yield performance and stability in soybeans and determine the relationship between the protein content and grain yield in soybeans. The genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block design of three replications for six seasons across eight locations in Uganda. Genotype and genotype-by-environment (GGE) biplot analyses classified the test locations into three mega-environments for soybean protein and grain yields. Genotype NII X GC 20.3 had the highest mean protein content of 43.0%, and BSPS 48A-9-2 and BSPS 48A-28 were superior for the mean grain yield (1207 kg ha−1). Bulindi was the most discriminating and representative test environment for soybean yield. A weak and negative correlation (r = −0.1**, d.f. = 29) was detected between the protein content (%) and yield (kg ha−1). The highest-yielding genotypes BSPS 48A-9-2, BSPS 48A-31, and Nam II × GC 44.2 are recommended for further evaluation under farmers' production conditions for selection and release as new soybean varieties in Uganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]