Paper ID: TAGJ24082502

The Relationship Between Government Agricultural Programs and Socioeconomic Development of Women in Shuuku Town Council

Mugambe Paul*, Kalibwani Rebecca, Atukunda Gershom

Faculty of Agriculture, Environmental Science and Technology

Bishop Stuart University

P. O. Box 09, Mbarara, Uganda.

* Email: [email protected]

Abstract

This study examined the effect of government agricultural programs on the socio-economic development of women in Shuuku Town Council, Sheema District, Uganda. Although women constitute over 50% of Uganda’s population, their socio-economic empowerment remains limited due to barriers such as restricted access to resources and limited decision-making power, despite government interventions. The study aimed to identify existing agricultural programs, explore factors influencing women’s development, and assess the relationship between these programs and women’s empowerment. A cross-sectional design employing both quantitative and qualitative methods was used, involving 247 women farmers and extension workers selected through simple random and purposive sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews and analyzed with SPSS and ATLAS.ti. The findings revealed that 40.8% of women strongly agreed that government support was adequate, while 36.7% strongly agreed that the programs improved crop yields. Participation in self-help groups was high (61.2%), and 51% of women had accessed loans to support their economic activities. A significant but weak positive correlation (r = 0.239, p = 0.006) was found between government programs and women’s socio-economic development, suggesting that while these initiatives contribute to empowerment, their impact remains limited. The study concludes that expanding access to training, credit, savings, and community participation can enhance women’s decision-making, resource control, and income. It recommends increased funding, effective information dissemination, and stronger community engagement to improve the effectiveness of government agricultural initiatives. Overall, government programs play an important role in empowering women, but more targeted efforts are needed to maximize their potential for sustainable rural development.

Keywords: Government Agricultural Programs, Women Empowerment, Socio-economic Development, Rural Development, Shuuku Town Council, Uganda

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