Determinants of Agricultural Technology Adoption: The Case of Improved Highland Maize Varieties in Toke Kutaye District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Dawit Milkias

doi:10.11648/j.jim.20180704.13

Abstract

Improved highland Maize is a new and promising crop gradually becoming important in Ethiopian highlands. Its production is rapidly increasing where it has been a minor crop in the past. The empirical evidences on the determinants of agricultural technology adoption and their intensity of adoption are very limited. In this paper, determinants of adoption and intensity of adoption of improved highland maize varieties were investigated by using descriptive statistics and econometric model (Tobit). Two stage sampling procedure was followed in order to draw 150 sample respondents. The model result revealed that variables such as farm size, household income, access to credit, contact with extension agents, participation in training, and field day were positively and significantly influenced whereas, age of household and market distance negatively influenced adoption and intensity of use of improved highland maize varieties in the study area. Therefore, government policies and intervention on adoption and intensity use of agricultural technology should pay attention and move along with those variables significantly influencing adoption and intensity of use of new agricultural technology.

Highlights

IntroductionMaize is the most widely grown and consumed staple crop in Africa with more than 300 million Africans depending on it as their main food source
A total of 13 explanatory variables were identified and out of these variables 9 of them revealed significant association with the adoption and intensity of use of improved highland maize varieties. Variables such frequency of contact with extension agents, access to credit service, social organization, participation in training, Field day and cosmopolitans are dummy, whereas age of household, farm income and farm size are continuous variables that show statistically significant at 1% and 5% significant level with the adoption decision
This paper has provided estimates of adoption rates and the determinants of adoption for improved highland maize verities in Toke Kutaye District, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia.The level of adoption observed is an indication of the existence of substantial potential to improve smallholders’ productivity with minimum cost compared to the development and introduction of new technologies

Summary

Introduction

Maize is the most widely grown and consumed staple crop in Africa with more than 300 million Africans depending on it as their main food source. It is the staple food for 24 million households in east and southern Africa and is annually planted over an area of 15.5 million hectares. Research in to maize improvement practices to optimize grain yields is a priority for governments in the region because of the critical role the crop plays in ensuring food security [2]. Maize is the most important crop in terms of production and contributes significantly to the economic and social development of Ethiopia [5]. Highland improved maize production is crucial for Ethiopian people in the short and medium term food security, and as well as for GTP growth [13]

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