Perception and determinants of agricultural technology adoption in North Shoa Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Laying the ground for the agricultural sector to derive development is critical and urgent in relieving majority of the poor out of poverty trap. This in turn calls the modernization of the agriculture sector through agricultural technology adoption. The major objective of the study is to assess the perception and determinants of agricultural technology adoption in North Shoa zone, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 796 farming households from four districts namely, Angolela Tera, Menz Gera, Minijar Shenkora and Moretna Jiru. For analysis purpose, t-test and binomial logistic model was employed. The result indicates that the likelihood of adopting improved seed, chemical fertilizer and irrigation is higher among households with higher age, greater years of schooling, large farm size, large livestock ownership and many extension contacts. Additionally, the likelihood of adopting these agricultural technologies is higher for household participating in non-farm income generating activities, having membership status in various social group and having access to credit. The likelihood of adopting the prevailing agricultural technologies also found higher for male- headed households as compared to female-headed ones. Distance to the nearest market also negatively and significantly affects the decision to adopt various agricultural technologies. The study suggested that the awareness of farmers concerning the available agricultural technologies should be raised through membership of different social group and frequent extension contact. On the other, promoting farmers to participate in off-farm income generation activities and creating access to credit service can reduce the financial constraint in purchasing and possessing new agricultural technologies.

Keywords:

• Adoption decision
• agricultural technology
• logistic regression model

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Capitalizing the agriculture sector through the adoption of new agricultural technology to drive development is both critically important and urgent for enhancing aggregate economic growth and improving the welfare of millions of extremely poor people especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. The decision to adopt a given or a combination of agricultural technologies affected by household specific, socio-economic, technology and institutional factors. However, there are a limited number of studies concerning the perception and determinants of agricultural technology adoption in Ethiopia. In this vein, this study tried to assess the perception and determinants of agricultural technology adoption in North Shoa Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. The study helps policy makers to come up with more plausible policy options leading to improvement in agricultural technology adoption among rural households.

Notes of Contribution

Solomon Estifanos, Tadesse Zenebe, Wudineh Ayalew and Markew Mengiste generated the idea, designed the study and collected the data. Solomon carried out the data analysis and write-up. Tadesse, Wudineh and Markew read, revised and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

The authors of this study wish to express their deepest gratitude to Debre Berhan University for its financial support in undertaking this study. It is our condolence to thank Debre Berhan University community who contributed a lot for the accomplishment of this study in one or another way. The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and editors for their thoughtful and unreserved insights.

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Additional information

Funding

All the financial requirement needed in undertaking this study was funded by Debre Berhan University;Debre Berhan University;Debre Berhan University;Debre Berhan University [Mega project];Debre Berhan University;

Notes on contributors

Solomon Estifanos Massresha

Solomon Estifanos is an Economist. Currently, he is a lecturer at Debre Berhan University, Department of Economics and works as a private consultant and manager at Mesale Consultancy Service PLC based at Debre Berhan, Ethiopia. He obtained his MSc and BA degrees from Jimma University and Haramaya University, respectively. His research areas include poverty, food security, agricultural technology adoption, institutional quality, investment, environmental management and urbanization.