Community Participation and Sustainability of Farmers’ Associations Supported by Central Archdiocesan Province Caritas Association In Mukono District, Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between community participation and sustainability of CAPCA supported farmers’ associations in Mukono district. The three objectives were to; establish a relationship between participatory planning and sustainability of the four farmers’ associations; examine a relationship between participatory implementation and sustainability of the four farmers’ associations; establish a relationship between participatory monitoring and sustainability of the four farmers’ associations. The results were obtained using a cross sectional study design that applied qualitative and quantitative approaches. A sample of 232 respondents was selected using probability and non-probability techniques. The findings showed that there was statistically significant relationship between; participatory planning and sustainability of the farmers’ associations with r= 0.534, participatory implementation and sustainability of the farmers’ associations with r= 0.578, participatory monitoring and sustainability of the farmers’ associations with r= 0.422. In conclusion, there is a positive relationship between community participation and sustainability of the four farmers’ associations in Mukono district. The study recommends that farmers’ associations should be provided with capacity building in sustainability and self-initiative strategies. The farmers should also be trained to participate in decision making for their organizations so that they develop ownership to the associations’ planning, implementation and monitoring. Future research should be done under a similar topic beyond the geographical and timing scope of this study and /or using a longitudinal study. Future research should also be carried out using other independent variables that contribute to the sustainability of farmers’ associations, besides those used in this study.