Abstract
Bread wheat also known as common wheat is one of the most important crops for food security and job opportunities for many smallholders as well as the urban population in Ethiopia. Farmers obtain seed from both formal and informal seed distribution systems. The informal seed sector in the study area is the major supplier of seed for many crops grown in the Womberma district. However, access to the formal seed sector was limited for the farmers. Hence, this study initiated to analyze seed distribution system and determinants of smallholder farmers in selecting seed of bread wheat distribution system in the study areas. The primary data was collected through distributing research questionnaires for the seed distribution systems of bread wheat. The study was based on the data collected from 150 households by using the multistage probability sampling method. The survey result shows that the contribution of public companies for supplying improved bread wheat seed was only 33% whereas 100% of producers confirmed that sources of bread wheat seed were from farm saved and local market which were uncertified leading to production deterioration. In line with these, conducted focus group and key informants confirmed that the major problems of formal seed distribution system were lack of timely supply, price fluctuation, limited quantity, and lack of certified seed suppliers while those of the informal seed distribution system were adulteration, high price, low quality, unable to get the right amount, and lack of timely supply, which concluded that the distribution system was inefficient. The econometrics model was used to analyze determinants of selection in seed distribution system of bread wheat in the study areas. Hence, the result of logit model shows that the level of education, access to credit, household income, extension services, and seed quality significantly and positively influenced farmers’ selection of formal seed distribution system while distance to the nearest seed distribution area influenced negatively the selection of formal seed distribution system in the study areas. Therefore, any concerned bodies should give more attention to establish for farmers formal seed distribution systems of bread wheat seed so as to increase production and productivity of bread wheat in the study areas.
Highlights
Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated in Ethiopia that ranks fourth after Teff (Eragrostis tef ), Maize (Zea mays), and Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in area coverage and the third in total production [1]. e total wheat area coverage and production in the Amhara region was 578,034.07 ha (32.30% of the countries area coverage) and 16,117,841.44 tons, respectively, with the productivity of 27.88-ton ha−1 in 2019/2020 meher season [1]
Econometric analysis was used to estimate the causal relationship between the dependent variable and regressors. e economic outcome to the model is sometimes a discrete choice among a set of alternatives, rather than a continuous measure of some activity. e individual faces a pair of choices and chooses what provides greater utility [15]. ere are dummy choice models that used to deal with dichotomous dependent variables. e binary logit model was applied in determining the bread wheat seed distribution system since the seed distribution system indicator, i.e., the dependent variable, is dichotomous. is is because the logistic regression analysis type does not necessarily require normality, constant variance, and random samples [16, 17]
When the farmers were well experienced with each phase of farming activity and well aware of extension services in a year, it is believed that it leads to an increase in the use of improved bread wheat seed via formal channels in the study areas
Summary
Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated in Ethiopia that ranks fourth after Teff (Eragrostis tef ), Maize (Zea mays), and Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in area coverage and the third in total production [1]. e total wheat area coverage and production in the Amhara region was 578,034.07 ha (32.30% of the countries area coverage) and 16,117,841.44 tons, respectively, with the productivity of 27.88-ton ha−1 in 2019/2020 meher season [1]. Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated in Ethiopia that ranks fourth after Teff (Eragrostis tef ), Maize (Zea mays), and Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in area coverage and the third in total production [1]. E total wheat area coverage and production in the Amhara region was 578,034.07 ha (32.30% of the countries area coverage) and 16,117,841.44 tons, respectively, with the productivity of 27.88-ton ha−1 in 2019/2020 meher season [1]. From Amhara region administrative zones, West Gojjam Zone ranks the second in area coverage, production, and yield of bread wheat which were 40,497.92 ha, 1,226,712.91q, and 30.29 q/ha, respectively. Agriculture in Ethiopia is the core driver for growth and long-term food security, which is in turn highly associated with the importance of economic growth. Seed sectors are contributing to the development of Ethiopia, through public and private companies, cooperatives, and smallholders’ entities [4].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
