Contribution of Women in the Adoption of Organic Fertilizers Among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Bugangari Sub-County, Rukungiri District

Agriculture remains a central pillar of rural livelihoods, with smallholder farmers playing a key role in food production and household income. In many developing regions, women constitute a significant proportion of the agricultural labor force, yet their contributions often remain under recognized. The promotion of sustainable farming practices, such as the use of organic fertilizers, has gained attention due to their environmental and productivity benefits. However, gender-related constraints continue to influence the adoption and effective utilization of such innovations. The study was about the contribution of women in the adoption of organic fertilizers among Smallholder maize farmers in Bugangari Sub-County, Rukungiri District. The specific objectives included to; evaluate the role of women in adopting organic fertilizers on maize productivity, assess the challenges faced by women in the adoption of organic fertilizers, and suggest strategies for enhancing women’s contribution and adoption of organic fertilizers. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach that integrated both descriptive and cross-sectional survey designs employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection and analysis. Data was gathered from 201 smallholder maize farmers and key informants using both questionnaire and interviews. Data was managed and analyzed using SPSS version 20 to generate both descriptive and regression statistics. The study found out that women play a critical role in the adoption of organic fertilizers among smallholder maize farmers in Bugangari Sub-County. Their contributions span several areas including fertilizer preparation (16.9%), field application (15.4%), farm management (13.9%), labor provision (12.9%), and knowledge sharing (8.5%). Hese challenges include inadequate extension services (B = -1.284, p = 0.002), limited land ownership (B = -0.965, p = 0.009), lack of information (B = -1.133, p = 0.004), poor access to organic inputs (B = -0.847, p = 0.014), high costs (B = -1.056, p = 0.005), limited access to credit (B = -0.918, p = 0.011), and restrictive cultural norms (B = -0.774, p = 0.022). The study concluded that women played a vital role in the adoption of organic fertilizers among smallholder maize farmers in Bugangari Sub-County through activities such as fertilizer preparation, field application, farm management, labor provision, and knowledge sharing. The study recommends improving women’s financial access, knowledge, and institutional support since it is essential for increasing adoption levels.