Factors Affecting High Yielding Teff Varieties Adoption Intensity by Small Holder Farmers in West Showa Zone, Ethiopia

The objective of the study is to describe the socio-economic characteristics of households growing high yielding teff varieties; and to investigate the factors influencing intensity of adoption of high yielding teff by small holder farmers in the study area. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The primary data was collected by using questionnaire from randomly selected of 144 teff producer household heads from the study areas. Three districts namely Ambo, Dendi and Toke kutaye of West showa zone and four PAs from each district were purposively selected on the ground that they are the leading producer of teff. Descriptive statistics and econometric model were employed for analyzing the data. Descriptive analysis result shows that variables such as experience on teff, farm size and distance to the market from continuous variable and sex of household head, participating on farmers association, extension, availability of credit, attending demonstration and agricultural extension training were significantly influences high yielding teff varieties adoption intensity. Tobit model result reviled that age of house hold head, market distance and farmers association were negatively influences adoption while, intensity of adoption of high yielding teff varieties was positively influenced by experience on teff farming, farm size, average income, extension, availability of credit, training, demonstration and owning radio for the technologies. The overall finding of the study underlined the high importance of institutional support by strengthening extension services, attention also should be given to the research and extension linkages, and frequent training must be organized for development agents and supervisors about existing and newly developed improved technologies and new methods of agricultural practices.