SENIOUR RESEARCH ON DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF IMPROVED WHEAT VARIETIES AMONGE SMALL HOLDER FARMERS

Abstract

Adoption of improved wheat varieties is one of the most promising ways to reduce food insecurity in Ethiopia. However, adoptions of these wheat varieties are constrained by various factors. This study examined the factor that affects farmers adoption of improved wheat varieties with 100 samples of households (70 male and 30 female) selected from 2kebeles in Chahe Woreda’s of Dage climatic zone, Gurage Zone, SNNPRS. In this area, wheat is an important crop, which serves as a source of both food and cash. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaire. The results of descriptive analysis indicated that among 100 sample size 46% and 54% were adopters and non adopters respectively. As the results of logit model indicated that from 11 identified explanatory variables 5 of them significantly determined adoption of improved wheat varieties; such as sex of household, education level of the household, land holding, on farm income and access to credit at significant level of 10% ,5% ,5% ,10% ,and 10% respectively . This results of the logit model indicated that the relative influence of different variables on probability of adoption of improved wheat varieties. Education level of household, on farm income, land holding, and access to credit were affected adoption positively: where as sex of household negatively influenced adoption of improved wheat varieties.Therefore, the study suggested the above mentioned significant variables have important for policy implications in that development programs may give fruitful attention so as to mitigate the variation of adoption of improved new wheat seed varieties by farmers in the production of wheat in study area.