Smallholder Farmers In Ethiopia Research Articles

Determinants of Smallholder Farmers Market Participation and Outlet Choice Decision of Agricultural Output in Ethiopia: A Review

The majority of farmers in Ethiopia are smallholder farmers. However, smallholder farmers Participation in markets remain low due to range of resource constraints such as capital, inputs and technology and their exposure to risk. Therefore, this paper was aimed to review different literature determinants of smaller holder farmers’ market participation and outlet choice decision in Ethiopia based on desk review method. The review reveals that demographic and socio-economic factors, institutional factors, market factors, technological factors, transaction cost and risk were determinants of smallholder farmers’ market participation decision in Ethiopia. On other hand, the determinants of smallholder farmers’ market outlet decision also reviewed. Accordingly, household characteristics, transaction costs, product characteristics, household asset and trusts on buyers were determinants smallholder farmers’ market outlet choice in Ethiopia. Therefore, government and concerned bodies should improve rural infrastructure, smallholder farm productivity through technology, market information, promotion of farmer associations to enhance market participation and outlet choice small holder farmers in Ethiopia.

Growth and Yield Response of Shallot (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) Varieties to Intra-Row Spacing in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

Shallot is an important crop as a condiment as well as a source of income for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. However, the yield of the crop is constrained by a number of factors among which inappropriate plant spacing and lack of improved varieties are the bottlenecks of its productivity in the study area. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Densa, Eastern Amhara, and Ethiopia to evaluate the growth and yield response of shallot varieties to intra-row spacing. The treatments consisted of four intra-row spacings (5, 10, 15 and 20 cm) and three shallot varieties (Dz-sht-157-1B, Dz-sht-91-2B, and Yheras). These were laid out in randomized complete block design replicated three times. Data on growth and yield parameters were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results indicated that varying intra-row spacings from 5 to 20 cm increased significantly (P <0.01) all yield characters assessed in all the traits except cured bulb yield (t ha-1) which decreased as a result of increasing intra-row spacing from 5 to 20 cm. Highest total bulb yield (26.20 t ha-1) and marketable bulb yields (25.24 t ha-1) were recorded at the closest intra-row spacing (5 cm). Dz-sht-157-1B variety was superior in terms of leaf number per plant (35.82), average bulb weight (69.08 g), marketable yield (24.46 t ha-1) and total bulb yield (25.17 t ha-1). Hence, based on the result, Dz-sht-91-2B grown at 10 cm intra-row spacing should be adopted by farmers in study area. However, further investigations on multiplications and over years should be made to come up with complete recommendations.

Determinants of Access to Agricultural Credit among Small holder Maize Farmers: The Case of Hababo Guduru District, Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Ethiopia

Access to agricultural credit remains a major challenge for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. One of the reasons for very low agricultural productivity in developing countries and particularly in Ethiopia is that lack of access to agricultural credit. Hence, we intend to identify determinants of access to agricultural credit among smallholder maize farmers in Hababo Guduru District, Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Ethiopia. The data were obtained from a total of 260 sample households, 120 who have access to credit and 140 who do not have access to credit via two stage random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and probit model were used to analyze the data.The results of the probit model show that age, sex, education, number of livestock owned, year of membership for the credit institution, frequency of extension contact and distance from credit source were significant factors affecting farmers’ accessibility to agricultural credit in the study area. Therefore, government policy that intends to improve the smallholder farmer’s access to agricultural credit facilities should formulate well-functioning system of providing credit.

Determinants of High Yielding Wheat Varieties Adoption by Small-Holder Farmers in Ethiopia

Adoption of high yielding wheat varieties is one of the measures presumed to enhance wheat yield in Ethiopia. However, there are several socioeconomic and institutional factors that limit the adoption of high yielding wheat varieties. The main objective of this study was to identify factors affecting adoption of high yielding wheat varieties in Mao-Komo district of Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia. The study used cross-sectional data collected from sample of 174 farm households selected through two-stage stratified random sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics and econometric models were used to analyze the data. Probit model was employed for adoption analyze of high yielding wheat varieties. The probit model result depicted that land holding size, tropical livestock unit, access to agricultural information, frequency of extension contacts, off-farm income, and perception of farmers toward attributes of high yielding wheat varieties affected the likelihood of adoption of high yielding wheat varieties positively and significantly. But, sex of household heads, and affiliation to organizations had negative and significant effect on the likelihood of adoption of high yielding wheat varieties. The findings suggest that the government and stakeholders should need to focus on improving farm land and livestock productivity, strengthening frequency of extension visits, encouraging participation in off-farm activities, creating reliable information and awareness towards farmers’ perceptions in the area. Finally, further support of high yielding wheat varieties adoption should be given due attention for smallholders. Keywords: Adoption, High yielding wheat varieties, Smallholder, Binary probit DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-12-03 Publication date :June 30 th 2019

Knowledge on Improved Practices of Teff by Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia

Teff is one of the most important crops for farm income and food security in Ethiopia. Despite the importance of teff in Ethiopia, yields are remarkably low mainly due to low adoption of improved agricultural technologies. Technical knowledge is not only valuable as an outcome impact indicator but could also serve as a reasonably reliable predictor of the adoption of management practices, particularly for crops and technologies where there is a relatively long-time lag between adoption and impact. Therefore, this study was carried out during 2016-17 to assess the knowledge of farmers on improved production practices of teff.The study used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Cross sectional survey research design was employed to collect data. Chaliya district was purposively selected because this district has only 46 ha under improved practices out of 6815 ha of land under teff cultivation, which is very low when compared with the other 18 districts of West Shoa zone. By using Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) and random sampling technique, 239 respondents were selected from the eight villages. The data were collected using well-structured interview schedule, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical tests. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents had no knowledge on row planting/sowing, transplanting, stages of application of Urea, optimum depth at which fertilizer is to be applied and quantity of Urea to be applied at each stage. Therefore, it is very much imperative to educate the farmers on row planting, transplanting and urea application. The extension agency must formulate the extension messages on the knowledge component of row planting, transplanting and fertilizer application while transferring the know-how.

Exploiting genotype x environment x management interactions to enhance maize productivity in Ethiopia

Maize is the main staple food crop grown by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. High variability in inter-seasonal rainfall presents the biggest risk for farmers to invest in best management practices in maize crop grown in Ethiopia. Optimising genotype (G) and management (M) of maize for different growing environments (E) could alleviate risks associated with seasonal rainfall variability and enhance reliability of yield of this crop. The objectives of this study were to quantify G x E x M interactions and identify best combinations of G and M for target maize production environments in Ethiopia. Ten genotypes, five each from early and medium maturity classes were evaluated at five planting densities, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9 plants m−2, across seven environments in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons. Our study explored a range of morphological, phenological and physiological traits underpinning the yield of maize. Our results revealed that combining the appropriate G and M is more effective than relying on the choice of genotypes. The optimum plant densities identified in this study are higher than the plant densities currently used by farmers. Planting BH-546 and TH13321 at 7 plants m−2 substantially increased yield compared with other genotypes. For instance, yield for TH13321 was higher by 48% (3.7 t ha-1) at 7 plants m−2 in high yielding environments compared with BH-540, the most widely grown hybrid by farmers. This indicates the need for optimising G and M and using versatile genotypes to exploit variability in weather and input-use in the country. The genotypes substantially varied for their response to radiation use efficiency, rainwater productivity and leaf orientation value at high plant density. The least response to these traits observed for BH-540 highlights the need for a reassessment of current varietal and agronomic options for maize production in Ethiopia. Information from this study could be extended to sub-Saharan African countries that are similarly using low plant density.

Res Nullius vs. Res Communis in Matters of Communal Lands of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia

Communal land is among the key factors in the enhancement of rural livelihood because it enables mixed farming practices. Although communal lands are prime sources of livelihood in rural farming communities, empirical evidence shows gaps in their legal recognition and protection in Ethiopia. There are encroachments which include government intrusion, informal land sale, distribution, and handing out land (selling communal land in informal markets) as Kebele’s contribution for development projects. These factors entrench poverty by sidelining the rural poor at the grassroots whose life is anchored on these lands. These problems also entail violation of human rights of the rural population. This article interrogates the misconception which tends to consider communal lands (customary land tenure) as res nullius (ownerless property) while such lands are in fact res communis (community property). The article uses the Hadiya Zone as a case study. It is argued that there is the need for the effective implementation and amendment of land laws which require political will to ensure tenure security of communal lands thereby securing and diversifying the livelihoods of poor smallholder rural farmers and ensuring human rights . Key terms Communal lands · Livestock · Poverty · Livelihoods · Rural Poor · Tenure security

Bridging technology adoption gaps in livestock sector in Ethiopia: A innovation system perspective

The failure of the majority of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia to take advantage of agricultural technologies and economic opportunities in the livestock sector remains an unresolved puzzle. This paper assesses the role of economic, social, political and organizational processes on technology adoption in smallholder livestock production systems based on innovation systems perspective. Functions of the innovation systems framework was used to assess the missing links in the dairy sector value chains. The results show that weak or missing innovation systems functions such as entrepreneurship, knowledge diffusion, market development, and policy advocacy mirror the low uptake of improved technologies in the livestock sector. Shortage of domestic suppliers of key technological inputs and services, weak input and output markets and weak interaction among value chain actors have been the major hindrances to livestock development. For example, there were no reliable sources of improved breeds of dairy heifers, veterinary supplies, quality semen, and equipment. The results suggest that technical knowledge and availability of economic opportunities alone may not be enough to stimulate the uptake of technologies and commercialization of dairy production. The peculiar nature of inputs, services, and output in the livestock sector requires innovative business models that can facilitate the coordination of knowledge, skills, inputs, services and output markets in livestock value chains.

Beekeeping practice and honey production potential in Afar Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract The contribution of beekeeping is perhaps one of the most important income-generating activities for millions of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. This study was intended to assess beekeeping practices and potential in three districts of Afar Region, northern Ethiopia. Primary data were collected from 120 respondents proportionally selected from each district. Semi-structured questionnaire were employed to collect the primary data. Focus-group discussion was also used to support interpretation of the interview data. Basically, descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. All respondents use traditional honey production system despite some recent trials. The mean live colony ownership of the sample beekeepers is 10.08 colonies per household, with a maximum ownership of 62 colonies. The study showed that the annual honey production per beehive varies from 4 to 17 kg, with a mean production of 9.66 kg. The majority of the respondents harvest two times per year, while 18%, 19%, and 14.2% of the respondents harvest three, four, and five times per year respectively. This might be due to the special floral calendar of tropical plants found in the areas. 67.5% of respondents supplement their colonies during dry season. Producers travel more than seven kilometres to sell their honey. On average, beekeepers sell 77.86 kg per year individually, with a range of 0 to 353 kg. The main constraints of honey production in the area are recurrent drought, poor extension service, lack of access to improved technology, deforestation, etc. Therefore, it requires intervention to change the old beekeeping practices through training and introducing improved production systems.

Is Sustainable Intensification Possible? Evidence from Ethiopia

This paper explores the sustainable intensification possibilities facing smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. We examine the internal consistency of jointly achieving “sustainable” “intensification” by exploring the factors that lead to complementarity or tradeoffs in the outcomes. A cross-sectional survey of farms was examined in multiple regions of Ethiopia’s Highlands. The results show that some farmers can achieve both sustainability and intensification, while many do not, or cannot achieve both at the same time. We found that some actions have a common impact on both sustainability and intensification, while other factors only affect one outcome. Access to agricultural loans and farm mechanization significantly increases the likelihood of succeeding in sustainable intensification. Access to land will be critical for agricultural sustainability while access to farming information and technical services will drive agricultural intensification. Overall, opportunities to improve both sustainability and intensification are weak, but the opportunity to improve one without sacrificing the other are realistic. The results contribute to the ongoing debate on sustainable intensification and help policy makers explore alternatives for managing different intensification and sustainability scenarios to achieve agricultural development goals.

Environmental Production Factors and Efficiency of Smallholder Agricultural Households: Using Non‐parametric Conditional Frontier Methods

AbstractExternal environmental factors play a significant role in the agricultural production of smallholder farmers. This is especially the case in developing countries where production is less technologically intensive. These factors are mainly exogenous and affect both the farmers’ input choices and the final output levels. However, previous studies of technical efficiency of smallholder agricultural production either ignore these factors or assume separability between environmental factors and input choice, which is often not the case in developing counties. Using data on smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, we relax this separability assumption and investigate the importance of external environmental factors in farmers’ performance and efficiency variation across regions. The empirical analysis is based on a non‐parametric conditional order‐m estimation method that relaxes some of the traditional strong assumptions in efficiency modeling and, more importantly, the separability between environmental factors and the choice of physical inputs. Using data from four major agricultural regions of Ethiopia, we show the extent that environmental factors contribute to the technical efficiency and the significance of environmental factors in farmers’ performance.

Agroforestry of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia: Practices and Benefits

This study investigates an under-rated and not widely recognized traditional agroforestry practice carried out by smallholders in the highlands of Ethiopia. The purposeful retaining of indigenous trees on farmers’ croplands is recognized as separate from other agroforestry practices. Farmers cultivate indigenous trees for a variety of benefits, including livelihoods, ecosystem services and the existence of scenic and economically valued birds. The adoption of farmland agroforestry has been driven by similar household-level variables that explain the adoption of many other agroforestry practices. However, in contrast to other agroforestry practices farmland agroforestry is not a management priority for farmers, an observation that appears due to a lack of appreciation of naturally occurring trees. Because agroforestry on farmland is declining, interventions are required that improve extension services, availability of indigenous tree seedlings and credit, support reliable legal frameworks and land titles, and foster the processing and value adding of tree products suitable for higher value uses.

Curbing Post Harvest Losses for Food Security: A Survey of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia

Reducing post harvest losses (PHL) offers great promise for curbing hunger and reducing food insecurity in Africa.A World Bank 2011 report on Missing Food estimated that if African farmers can reduce PHL by even one percentthat will be an annual savings of US$40 million for Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Our survey of 88 smallholderfarmers in the Gondar Region of Ethiopia found that farmers faced serious to most serious losses caused by rodents,birds and the weather. About 46% of the respondents, expressed serious problems with rodents; 54% had seriousproblems with birds and even higher numbers, 55% and 63% had serious problems with the weather and pests,respectively. Another 28.4% of the farmers complained of very serious problems with birds while half of them hadvery serious problems with rodents. Many of the PHL problems seem to emanate from poor storage. The Universityof Purdue, USA, has invented what it calls the “Purdue Improved Crop Storage Bag,” which is advertised as highlyefficient and relatively inexpensive. We urge agricultural extension systems in Africa to test the effectiveness of thisbag before recommending it to their grain farmers as a means of reducing PHL.

How farmers\u2019 characteristics influence spontaneous spreading of stone bunds in the highlands of Ethiopia: a case study in the Girar Jarso woreda

This study aims to identify key differences between farmers who spontaneously implement stone bunds (i.e. farmers implementing stone bunds by their own initiative) and farmers who do not. Data were collected in the Girar Jarso woreda in the central highlands of Ethiopia, through a household survey with 80 farmers: 40 with spontaneously implemented stone bunds and 40 without. Independent samples t test, principal component analysis and regression analysis were used to analyse the data. Results show that five key-factors explain differences between the two groups of farmers: (1) readiness to change, (2) available resources, (3) social capital, (4) type of family, and (5) commitment. These factors together explain 73% of the variance in the data set and show that particularly characteristics related to the farmer’s intrinsic motivation play a crucial role to spontaneously implement and integrate stone bunds into the farming system. Furthermore, results show that young farmers are most committed to soil conservation: they are often intrinsically motivated dynamic farmers who are ready to change their future and improve productivity and food security. The study suggests that government extension programmes should therefore focus more on these young and dynamic farmers and foster their readiness to change. This implies that extension workers and government officials should better understand the crucial role of farmers’ intrinsic motivation when dealing with sustainable land management, and also reformulate extension strategies and messages. This is particularly important when developing a scaling-up strategy that helps to sustainably increase agricultural production and achieve food security of small-holder farmers in Ethiopia.

Substitution of mulberry leaf meal on feed intake, body weight and carcass characteristics of Tigray highland lambs

The purpose of this study is to evaluate effects of partial or full substitution of mulberry leaf meal for concentrate mix on performances of Tigray highland lambs. Thirty intact yearlings Tigray highland male lambs (average initial body weights of 17.8±0.95 kg) were separated into 6 groups based on their live weight with each groups assigned 5 treatment diets (RCBD), that are: T1: 300 g concentrate mix alone, T2: 225 g concentrate mix + 86.55 g mulberry leaf, T3: 150 g concentrate mix + 173.1 g mulberry leaf, T4: 75 g concentrate mix + 259.7 g mulberry leaf and T5: 346.2 g mulberry leaf alone. The treatments diets were designed in such a way that concentrate mix was progressively replaced by mulberry leaf meal from 0% to 100% at iso-nitrogenous level. Lambs were adapted to experimental diets for 15 days, and after adaptation period, feeding trial was conducted. Results reveal that complete substitution of concentrate mix by mulberry leaf meal showed in higher (P<0.05) total dry matter, organic matter, NDF and ADF intake than the sole concentrate mix. The growth performance parameters resulted comparable across all the treatment diets. The slaughter weight and empty weight resulted higher (P<0.05) in sole mulberry leaf meal as compared to the whole concentrate mix supplemented lambs. On the other hand, the dressing percentage on empty body weight base and hot carcass weight showed less difference (P>0.05) across the different treatments. Therefore, mulberry foliage could potentially be used to replace concentrate mix as a feed supplement for the small holder farmers in Ethiopia.

A review of tef physiology for developing a tef crop model

Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) is important for Ethiopian food security and a significant source of income for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. In industrialized nations, tef is becoming a popular health food due to its lack of gluten and high nutritional value. Though tef is an important crop within Ethiopia, research on the crop has been limited. Crop models are an important tool for assessing food security, the effectiveness of management practices, and the impacts of climate change on crop production. The only existing crop models for tef are the FAO-AEZ crop growth simulation model, and the FAO AquaCrop model, which focuses on water limited crop production. The FAO AEZ model only produces final yields, which limits its applicability. The AquaCrop model has been validated using data from northern Ethiopia under current climate conditions without nitrogen limitations. As tef production spreads across the world, and Ethiopia suffers from soil fertility depletion and climate change, there is a need for a more comprehensive tef model. Tef, a short-day C4 crop, shows a high level of genetic diversity, resulting in large variation in water use, water use efficiency, growing season length, and even photosynthetic rate across cultivars. Tef quickly reaches a closed canopy, resulting in a higher early-season water use efficiency than wheat (C3 crop) or sorghum (C4 crop). Lodging is a significant yield limitation in tef, and is often exacerbated by fertilizer applications. There are several areas of tef research that have limited, or no, published data, especially on a field level, which will hinder future tef model development. These areas include the effects of temperature on photosynthesis and phenology, the effects of heat stress on senescence, the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on photosynthesis and transpiration, and a field level lodging model. By combining relevant information from other crops with the available tef literature, however, it should be possible to create a tef crop model prototype.

Impact of improved maize adoption on household food security of maize producing smallholder farmers in Ethiopia

In recent years, maize has gained prominence as an important staple crop in Ethiopia second only to teff in terms of acreage. Most of this is grown by semi-subsistence farm households whose livelihoods are tied to crop production and some livestock keeping. Therefore, an important policy question concerns the impact that the reported maize revolution has had on household food security. This paper answers that question by examining the empirical regularities that explain the adoption of improved maize varieties (IMVs) and how this has impacted household food security in a sample of 2327 maize producing households in 39 districts of Ethiopia. An endogenous switching regression model supported by the dose-response continuous treatment effect method was used to empirically assess the impact of IMV adoption on per capita food consumption expenditure and perceived household food security status. Results show that IMV adoption has a robust and positive impact on per capita food consumption and also significantly increases the probability of a smallholder being in food surplus. The advances in the adoption of improved maize has thus contributed significantly to the food security of maize producing smallholders, confirming the role of crop improvement in contributing to food security of agrarian households.

DISPARITY IN ADOPTION OF WHEAT PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY PACKAGES IN EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Production of wheat by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia contributes a significant share to the agricultural production of the country. However, the actual productivity of the crop has been far below its potential. Varied levels of technology adoption are often observed among smallholder farmers producing the crop. For enhanced dissemination of technology packages and improving wheat productivity, it is vital to elucidate socio-economic factors that are behind disparity in technology adaption among smallholder farmers. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyse the socio-economic, institutional, and other pertinent variables that determine the existing disparity observed among smallholder farmers in terms of adopting wheat production technology packages in Gurawa and Meta districts of eastern Ethiopia. The study utilized survey data collected from 124 randomly selected wheat households producing wheat. For this purpose, an ordered logit model was applied. The econometric results revealed that age of the household head, membership in cooperative institutions, and household annual income significantly and positively explained the disparity observed in adoption of wheat production technology packages. Conversely, gender of household head (sex), farming experiences, number of plots owned, and frequency of contacts with extension agents explained the disparity significantly, but negatively. It could be concluded that development practitioners, planners, and policy makers should give due considerations to the aforementioned socio-economic and institutional factors when designing dissemination of wheat production technology packages for adoption by farmers.

Climate Projection Outlook in Lake Haramaya Watershed, Eastern Ethiopia

Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia generally face widespread problems driven by climate change. For this reason, the study of climate change at watershed level might be critical to solve the problem from its root. The study was conducted in Lake Haramaya Watershed, Eastern Ethiopia to project ad characterize the climatic condition of the coming thirty years (2020-2050). Thirty-four years of rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature baseline data were collected from National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia. Whereas, thirty years (2020-2050) projected rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures were downscaled from MarkSim web version for IPCC AR5 data (CMIP5) using five climate models namely: BCC-CSM1-1, CSIRO-Mk3-6-0, HadGEM2-ES, MIROC-ESM, MIROCESM- CHEM, and MIROC5 under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs): RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The results of the study revealed that the annual mean rainfall will be increased by 20.70 and 24.14% under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively compared to baseline average value of 777.51 mm/yr. The annual rainfall under RCP4.5 ranges from 769.6 to 1090 mm/yr having the CV value of about 11%; whereas, under RCP8.5, it will range from 771.9 to 1129 mm/yr with the CV value of 13.17%. Kiremt (JJAS) season rainfall will increase from the baseline of 107.55 mm/yr to 135.79 and 136.27 mm/yr under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. Moreover, a study indicated that the annual and seasonal temperature under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 will be expected to increase during 2020-2050 period. Under high emission scenario of RCP8.5, the annual maximum temperature could rise from 24.73°C baseline to 25.41°C.

Effect of off‐farm income on smallholder commercialization: panel evidence from rural households in Ethiopia

AbstractThis article investigates how off‐farm income affects crop output market participation decisions and marketed surplus of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. A double‐hurdle model is estimated using three waves of panel data from the Ethiopian Rural Household Survey. Unobserved heterogeneity is controlled for using a correlated random effect procedure and potential endogeneity of explanatory variables using a control function approach. The results show that off‐farm income has no significant influence on household crop output market participation. However, conditional on market participation, additional off‐farm earnings negatively affect the marketed surplus. This indicates that farmers use off‐farm earnings for consumption rather than for investment in agricultural production. Policy measures that promote rural investment may help increase returns to labor for land‐poor households participating in off‐farm work in the process of agricultural commercialization.