Citrus farming is a smallholder enterprise in Eastern Uganda that has been prioritised and has received significant strategic support from government. However, farmers are variably engaging and benefiting from it probably due to existing inefficiencies in the value chain. This study aimed at analysing the citrus value chain, to identify factors affecting its performance, to foster citrus market competitiveness. The study involved citrus farming households, input suppliers, processors and traders. Cross sectional data were obtained and analysed using value chain mapping and gross margin analysis techniques. Results showed that farmers produce citrus using traditional technologies, including use of informally distributed planting materials with limited chemicals and irrigation. Value addition is limited and processing is still a critical missing link, thus fruits are commonly sold fresh. Generally, the value chain is not well coordinated and there is lack of trust among actors. Nevertheless, gross margin analysis shows that citrus farming is a profitable venture, which can lead to improvement in smallholder farm incomes and gainful employment in some segments of the value chain. Thus, citrus value chain upgrading opportunities lie within provision of quality planting materials, processing for value addition, and establishment of commodity innovation platforms.

The study investigated factors influencing the choice of fish traders' marketing channel by fish trader and the determinants of their gross margins. A multistage sampling technique of 115 fish traders was used. Four key informants and two focus groups participated in the study. A Probit model was used to determine factors that influenced the choice of fish traders' marketing channel. Findings from the study revealed that volumes of fish traded per month, distance to market, membership to a fish marketing organization, payment mode, household size, presence of other sources of income were statistically significant in determining traders' choice of marketing channel. In addition, it was found that a formal trader on average sold 6.882 tons of fish whereas 2.095 tons of fish were sold by the informal trader per month. The study therefore recommends that Informal traders be clustered into a marketing organisation; through which they can be trained on business diversification, collective marketing, and group savings to ease access to credit. It is important to eliminate the challenges encouraging informal cross border fish trade by harmonizing regional fish standards, facilitating exchange and use of fishery trade information. Further, there is need to strengthen the data collection systems in order to have accurate estimates on the contribution of fish to trade and food security.

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Orange (Citrus sinensis L.) is a major dietary component globally, responsible for supplying nutrients and phytochemicals of biological and health influence such as minerals, vitamins, fiber, flavonoids, limonoids, and carotenoids and antioxidant. It accounts for more than 50% of the citrus fruits produced world-over. It is a popular fruit in sub-Saharan Africa, though its level of consumption per capita is by global standards very low. In Uganda, orange production is mostly concentrated in eastern and northern parts; mostly grown by small holder farmers who are plagued by a milliard of production and marketing constraints. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of institutional, infrastructural and socio-economic factors on smallholder access to orange markets in Uganda. The study was conducted in Kaberamaido, Kumi and Soroti Districts in eastern Uganda, using cross sectional data, during 2011-2012. Probit model results showed that the key institutional factor that affected smallholder access to markets was institutional belonging; the infrastructural factors entailed ownership of mobile phone and location of household; while age of household head, household size and output price constituted the socio-economic factors. Mobile phone, household size and age of household head elicited the highest effect on the probability for smallholder market access, and the magnitude of effect is shown by flexibilities of 0.5, -0.06 and 0.02, respectively. Tobit model estimates showed that market information, and household location constituted institutional and infrastructural factors affecting market access, respectively; while age of trees, output, output price and occupation of household head constituted the socio-economic factors. The critical factors that affect the extent of market access include location, market information, primary occupation of household head and quantity of output as shown by flexibilities of -0.6, 0.5, 0.5, and 0.03, respectively. Based on the Probit and Tobit model estimates, market information, mobile phone and quantity of outputs constitute critical institutional, infrastructural and socio-economic factors that affect smallholder market access. Therefore, opportunity for unlocking the potential for smallholders to access orange markets exists in boosting the level of output and facilitating linkage to markets. Key words: Citrus sinensis, infrastructural, institutional

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