BITUKAN MIHRET2025-08-012025-08https://rps.wku.edu.et/handle/123456789/46416The aims of this study: identify factors influencing adoption of improved maize varieties at household level; large numbers of technologies have been generated over the last many years. However, the adoption of these technologies by small holder farmers was limited. The adoption of new maize varieties, under varying contextual setting, is influenced by many socio-economic, institutional and demographic factors of the farm households. So, it is vital to be aware and there is a need to understand the contextual factors affecting the adoption of new maize varieties in order to generate and disseminate appropriate maize varieties to farmer. For this research data was collected from 70 households using a multi-stage sampling technique from three sample kebeles in cheha district. For the study, both primary and secondary data were employed. Descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, and standard deviation and inferential statistics such as independent t-tests and chi-square tests were used. STATA statistical computer software program was used to analyze the collected data. The result of the model revealed that the explanatory variables education, farm size, total active household labor in man equivalent, income, contact extension agent, off farm, were statistically significant and positively influence adoption of improved maize varieties. Whereas age and market distance were found to have a significant and negative influence on the adoption decision of improved maize varieties. The result from this survey suggests that implementation of well-established extension package, formation of compatible rural credit institutions, improvement of infrastructure and collective action of farmers, researchers, development agent, and entire stakeholders are helpful.enThesis