Development Study

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Browsing Development Study by Author "Demeke, Mulat (PhD)"

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    The Impact of Improved Technology on Crop Productivity: A Case Study in Basona Worana Wereda, North Shewa, Amhara Region
    (Addis Ababa University, 2000-05) Dejene, Minliku; Demeke, Mulat (PhD)
    This paper tries to examin e the impact oj improved technology on Ja rm productivity and income oj Jarm households. Further, yield and income difference between adopters and non -a dopters resulting from the level oj technology adoption. Theoretical and empirical findings suggested that crop yields particularly that oj wh eat whose p roven t echn.ology (improved seed varieties) are available showed marked produ ctivity. Techn ology adoption by Jar increased the income oJJarmers that use commercialJertilizer both with local alld improved seed. The reason Jor technology adoption is that yield could not be increased to satisfy the present Jood requirements oj the population, given the decline in sOilJertility and poor agronom ic practices. Agricultural productivity in the Ethiopian cOIUext suffered from low input application., deterioration in the soil nutr ients, inappropriate agricultural policies, recurrent drought, etc. All these Jactors adversely affect Jood production and productivity a nd thus have made the countly to heavily depend on Jood imports and Jood aid. Although the past package programs prove the possibility oj increasing yield, its coverage and the purpose to wh ich it served had never changed the life oj th e rural poor in particular and th e overall the sector's peljormance, at la rge. That is to say, those package programs prior to the early 1990 's served only the small portioll oj the rich Jarmers. In understanding oj the problem, th e present government put into effect thenew extension program known as the PADETES with the objective of increasing farm productivity of the mass of the small farmers through widespread application of improved technologies and farmers' participation in the process of planning and implementing in the choice and adoption of available technologies. Since its implementation reports showed that it was possible to increase farmers ' yield by more than two-fold. Having examining the hitherto theoretical and empirical findings, this paper tried to link its results with these facts. The results of this study ji-om the sample of 175 households in Basona Worana woreda of Amhara North Shewa showed that farmers with better land, farm oxen, educational status, etc are adopters of improved technology. All adopters were found better both in yield and income levels than nonadopters. Wheat and barely yields showed significant productivity improvement. Further, it is tried to show farm income differential between adopters and nonadopters through employing financial analysis method. It is important to note that problems related to the input and credit market, poor extension and research links, and institutiollal problems, among others arrested the level of technology adoption and hence the increase in farm productivity. Therefore, it is essential to mitigate albeit solve these problems so as to attain the objective of food self-sufficiency and food security at the national or household levels.