The Heckman Model of Dietary Diversity Score: The Case of Akaki Small-Scale Irrigation Scheme

Abstract

The study aims to develop Heckman model of dietary diversity score: the case of Akaki Small-Scale Irrigation Scheme. Out of 700 farming households with systematically stratified random sampling technique, this causal type of study analyzed 246 household surveys based primary data (personal interview questionnaire) with inferential statistics (Heckman two stage). It shows that farming households are still insufficient of dietary diversity. At 0.05 probability level; sex, land size (ls), educational level (ed), off farm income (offarmi), irrigation experience (exep) and distance from home to water source (dhomeland) are significant determinant factors of dietary diversity. At 0.05 probability level; sex, off farm income (offarmi), irrigation experience (exep) and distance from home to water source (dhomeland) are statistically significant determinants and they reliably predict participation in small scale irrigation scheme, citrus paribus. Collective action among governments, NGOs and farming households on flood control and market linkage (perfect information on price of their product) should be taken to let farming households harvest two times per year and prosper.