Determinants of Participation Decision of Smallholder Farmers on Cluster Farming: The Case of Teff in West Shewa Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This research was conducted in Liban Jawi district West Shewa zone of the Oromia region to evaluate the determinants that affect the participation decisions of smallholder farmers in teff cluster farming. A multistage sample procedure was used to collect the data. Liban Jawi District was purposely selected from the West Shewa zone due to the potential teff production and implementation of teff cluster farming. Next, based on the proportion of peasant association that undertakes cluster farming, four PAs were selected. Then using stratified random sampling PAs were stratified into two strata: cluster farming and non-cluster farming participants. Finally, 133 respondents were selected using systematic random sampling methods. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze relationships between a dichotomous dependent variable and explanatory variables. The results of this study indicated that among the selected variables used in the model, nine of them were found to have significant effects including the age of household head, gender, experience, land holding size, income, walking time to farmland, credit accessibility, participation in the demonstration, and access to training were statistically significant on participation decision of smallholder farmers decisions in teff cluster farming. Therefore, the Federal and or the regional government ought to enhance farmer associations to have the potential to significantly influence the participation decision-making process. In addition, to support farmers in adopting new varieties and increase their productivity, the government should give training, and increase extension linkages to enhance the participation decisions of farmers in cluster farming.