Dynamics of Formal Seed Utilization and Use Intensity: Evidence from Wheat Growers in East Gojjam Province, North-western Ethiopia

Abstract

Commercial agriculture is driven by utilization of modern agricultural inputs despite the variable rate of adoption and use intensity. This study investigates the major factors attributed to variation in households’ participation and intensity of formal seed useby taking 4 districts as a case in East Gojjam, Northwestern Ethiopia. A total of 250 farmers were selected following 3 stages and data were processed with Heckman Two-Stage Model using STATA (version 13). The result showed that households participation in formal seed use was significantly affected by land allocated for wheat and the number of oxen (positively, P<0.01), farming experience (positively, P<0.1) and age and off-farm income (negatively, P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). Similarly, intensity of formal seed utilized was significantly influenced by size of wheat land, number of oxen and frequency of extension services (positively, P<0.01) and sex and family size (positively, P<0.05). The existing seed supply chains are inefficient, seed systems are institutionalized and there are weak initiatives for community based seed systems. Strong extension services, empowering females with financial incentives and encouraging farmer based seed multiplication system can improve farmers’ tendency of improved seed use. Rapid intervention on monopolistic distribution of seeds can bring about competitive seed markets which lead to sufficient supply with optimum prices.