An Economic Assessment of Banana Genetic Improvement and ...

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62 CHAPTER 5
Table 5.18 Share of banana mats managed with recommended practices among users, Uganda
Elevation
Exposure
Practice
Low High Exposed Not exposed
All
Natural resource management
Mats under mulch 0.35*** 0.12*** 0.38* 0.29*
Mats under animal manure 0.30*** 0.12*** 0.33 0.24
Mats under compost 0.30*** 0.11*** 0.31 0.26
Mat management
Proportion of stumps removed 0.47*** 0.64*** 0.56*** 0.35***
Proportion of pseudostems split or chopped 0.26*** 0.59*** 0.33*** 0.16***
0.26
0.22
0.25
0.54
0.38
Note: *** and * indicate statistical significance at the 1 percent and 10 percent levels, respectively, in the difference of means
or distributions across elevation and exposure strata within countries.
frequently used in high-elevation areas
(which are also in the southwest) than in
low-elevation areas (Cen tral and Eastern
regions). Use rates of most sanitation practices
(that is, desuckering, detrashing,
stumping, and splitting/chopping pseudostem)
were also significantly higher in highelevation
areas than in lowlands. In general,
there is a significant difference in the
management of bananas between the two
major producing areas defined by altitude,
probably due to differences in the production
potential. Farmers in high-altitude
areas have a greater incentive to manage
their plants well, partly due to the more
commercial nature of production. Rates of
mulching, manure application, and water
conservation reflect resource availability
and, for bands, whether the planting is on
slopes.
Statistical differences in use of specific
management practices are also evident according
to exposure, although not for all
practices. Adoption rates for mulching,
composting, SWC bands, corm paring, detrashing,
desuckering, and corm removal
were higher in exposed areas than in nonexposed
areas. The adoption rates of SWC
contour bands and stumping in low-altitude
areas were observed to be slightly higher
among relatively small holders (