Determinants of adoption of improved wheat technology package in the West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia

Wheat is a staple crop and key livelihood source for millions of smallholders in Ethiopia. Despite the release of several improved technologies, adoption rates remain suboptimal, particularly in the West Gojjam Zone. This study examines the factors influencing adoption of the complete improved wheat technology package in this zone. Using a multistage sampling procedure, 385 farm households were selected from four districts (Dembecha, Bure, Wonberma, and Javitehnan). Primary data were collected via structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model. Results show that 55.8% of sampled households adopted the full technology package. Logistic regression revealed that age of household head, education level, farm size, credit access, extension contact, cooperative membership, and market distance significantly influenced adoption. Farmers with credit access were 2.44 times more likely to adopt than those without, while cooperative members had 2.19 times higher adoption odds than non-members. The study concludes that both socioeconomic and institutional factors shape adoption decisions. Policy interventions should prioritize strengthening extension services, expanding credit access, promoting farmer cooperatives, and investing in rural infrastructure.