National Survey and Segmentation of Smallholder Households in Uganda: Understanding Their Demand for Financial, Agricultural, and Digital Solutions

Based on a nationally representative survey of smallholder households, this report examines how smallholder households in Uganda manage their income and expenses, along with the issues they face that threaten income and often lead to financial instability. It then describes financial inclusion in the smallholder sector, exploring household tools that are essential for financial inclusion, including mobile phones and national identification documents, as well as adoption of financial products, awareness, barriers, and interests. Finally, it outlines meaningful segments of the smallholder population in Uganda, mapping out groups of smallholder farmers that matter for fostering greater product adoption, and delving into their demand for various financial mechanisms. 

This comprehensive exploration of the lives of smallholder farming households seeks to answer the following three questions:

• What does the community of practice need to know or do to support smallholder farmer households build resilient and productive livelihoods?
• How can financial mechanisms respond to the relevant needs and desires of smallholder households?
• What types of market strategies and approaches can cultivate the uptake and use of financial mechanisms?