Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Teff Varieties in Cheha District of Guraghe Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Adoption and wider diffusion of improved varieties is playing vital role in reversing the present situation of food insecurity in many parts of Ethiopia. However, the uses of improved teff varieties are constrained by various factors. Hence, in this study, an attempt was made to examine factors affecting the household’s decision to adopt improved teff verities in Cheha woreda. The study was based on the cross-sectional data obtained from 93 teff producers collected through semi-structured questionnaire. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select sample respondents. Descriptive statistical like mean, standard deviation, percentage, and frequency distribution and Probit model was used to address the objectives of the study. The result of the econometric analysis using probit model confirmed that age of household head, size of land allocated for teff and distance from the nearest market affect the husehold’s adoption decision negatively and significantly whereas frequency of extension contact, off/non-farm income, household’s livestock holding, improved teff seed availability were found to affect the household’s adoption decision positively and significantly. Therefore, providing frequent and reliable extension contact, providing good transport facilities for farmers through infrastructural development, smoothening the access to and availability of improved teff seeds, enhancing household’s non-farm income generation capacity and supporting households to enhance their livestock holding are the primary focus areas that need policy intervention to enhance the adoption of improved variety so that their productivity will be improved which inturn will enhance the households food security.