Determinants of Maize Market Supply, Production and Marketing Constraints: The Case of Dembecha District, West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia

Desalegn Wondim,Tewodros Tefera,Yitna Tesfaye

doi:10.11648/j.ijeee.20200505.13

Abstract

West Gojjam is one of the maize belt zones in Ethiopia, and Dembecha district is among the potential districts in West Gojjam zone. However, despite its maize production potential of the district, marketed supply determinants, maize production and marketing constraints hampered producer’s decision and engagement on maize production and marketing. Thus, this study was attempts to address the determinants of marketed supply of maize, constraints and opportunities in Dembecha district in the year 2018. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources using appropriate tools. Primary data were collected from randomly selected 155 maize producers, 20 consumers as well as 40 maize grain traders, 10 alcohol processors using semi-structured questionnaire. Multiple linear regression econometric model were employed for data analysis owing to all respondents were participating in maize production and marketing activities. Results from econometric model revealed that sex of house hold head at 5%, education at 5%, amount of maize produced at 1%, extension contact at 1%, livestock owned at 5%, credit use at 10% and amount of non-farm income at 5% were positively determine maize marketed surplus in Dembecha district. Land shortage, price of improved seed, road and lack of government support were among major maize production and marketing constraints. Existence of strong multipurpose farmer’s cooperatives, using maize for multipurpose in the area and its productivity per hectare were the major opportunities in the study area. Thus, governmental and non-governmental organization that working with relating to maize production and marketing activities in the district should take in to account these determinate factors, constraints and opportunities while preparing intervention strategies.

Highlights

Agriculture is still the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy and it contributes 36.2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 72.7 percent of employment and 70 percent of export earnings [3]
Maize is the most important staple food crop in Sub-Saharan African countries with few countries on the take-off to export to the neighborhood countries [6]
According to [5] report, cereals are the major food crops both in terms of the area planted and volume of production obtained of which maize accounts 16.98% area coverage less than teff which is 24.00% (about 3,017,914.36 hectares but Desalegn Wondim et al.: Determinants of Maize Market Supply, Production and Marketing Constraints: The Case of Dembecha District, West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia obtained 27.02% (78,471,746.57 quintals) production greater than teff which is 17.29% (50,204,400.47 quintals)

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture is still the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy and it contributes 36.2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 72.7 percent of employment and 70 percent of export earnings [3]. Grain production in Ethiopia is almost entirely based on rain-fed agriculture and is characterized by a dominant harvest (meher) in November and December and a secondary harvest (belg) in April and May and Cereals contributed 87.29% (about 177,613,365.84qt) of the grain production and maize alone accounts for (24.5%) of cereals production in the country [4]. According to [5] report, cereals are the major food crops both in terms of the area planted and volume of production obtained of which maize accounts 16.98% (about 2,135,571.85 hectares) area coverage less than teff which is 24.00% (about 3,017,914.36 hectares but Desalegn Wondim et al.: Determinants of Maize Market Supply, Production and Marketing Constraints: The Case of Dembecha District, West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia obtained 27.02% (78,471,746.57 quintals) production greater than teff which is 17.29% (50,204,400.47 quintals). The same report, in 2016/17 production year the top three maize producer parts of Ethiopia namely, Amhara, Oromia and Southern region respectively accounting for 8.94%, 7.96%, 7.41% of grain production in 2015/16

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Conclusion