Factors affecting improved seed and soil conservation technology adoptions in Bore District

Abstract

Low adoption of agricultural technology is among the main reasons for low farm productivity and high incidence of poverty and food insecurity in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to examine the factors affecting adoption of improved seed and soil conservation and to estimate the interdependency of improved seed and soil conservation technology in Bore district Southern, Ethiopia. The three stage sampling technique was employed to select 138 rural households for the interview. Bivariate probit model was employed to estimate the joint success and failures of the technologies. The biprobit model results showed that plot distance from home, soil fertility status, adoption of organic fertilizers and time change which is adjusting planting date were significantly influence the decision to adopt improved seed varieties whereas, amount of organic fertilizer used, distance of household from market and plot distance from home were the three important variables affecting soil conservation technology where plot distance and time change negatively affect improved seed and distance to market and plot distance from home negatively affected the soil conservation technology in the study area, respectively. The probability of adopting improved seed variety, probability of adopting only soil conservation, success probability of adopting both technologies and probability fail to adopt both of the technologies were 57.5%, 42.77%, 22.73% and 22.43%, respectively. Therefore, improve credit access, extension and infrastructures that promote improved seed and soil management technologies. Training to extension agents and farmers during farmer training and field days are valuable to supporting these important linkages.