Intensity and prospect of smallholders' potato commercialization in Southern Ethiopia: Evidence from Gamo zone

Ethiopia has set agricultural commercialization as one of the policy priorities to transit from subsistence-oriented agriculture to commercialized one, which could ensure stable livelihoods for both producers and consumers. Despite this, much of the country's crop production, particularly tuber crops, is still subsistence-based. Potato is the leading tuber crop in Ethiopia in terms of its production capacity, productivity, and market demand, and its commercialization could significantly impact the policy. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the determinants and prospects of the intensity of potato commercialization. Data for the study was gathered from 255 smallholder potato producers using multistage sampling techniques. The inferential statistics with Tobit regression and thematic content analysis were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data. The findings depict that formal education, the number of oxen, the proportion of land dedicated to potatoes, potato output, contact with extension services, cooperative membership and accessibility to irrigation water significantly increase the intensity of potato commercialization while distance to market and paved road have a negative impact. The potential for future improvements in potato commercialization depends on the exploitation of existing opportunities, including farmers' production skills, agroecology, the government focuses on agriculture, water availability and NGO intervention from the production side, increased market outlets, higher market demand and local knowledge of post-harvest management from the consumption side. The government and other initiatives must focus on extension services, cooperative farming, market and road accessibility, and utilizing the identified opportunities.