Impacts of the Adoption Intensity of Improved Bread Wheat Package and Seed Recycling Practices on Smallholder Farmers’ Productivity and Technical Efficiency: The Case of East Gojam Zone, Ethiopia
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2023-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study was conducted with an overall objective of investigating the impacts of the adoption intensity of Improved Bread Wheat Package (IBWP) and seed recycling practices on smallholder farmers’ productivity and Technical Efficiency (TE). The first article examined the yield effect of plot – level seed rate application and compared the costs and benefits of fresh and recycled seed use in Bread Wheat Production (BWP). The second article investigate the determinants of smallholder farmers’ adoption intensity of the IBWP and its impact on productivity. The third article estimates smallholder farmers’ level of TE in BWP, identify sources of technical efficiency, and analyze the impact of seed recycling on smallholder farmers’ TE and productivity. The researchers hypothesized that poor agronomic management practices, such as improper seed rates and multiple seed recycling, are major contributors to low productivity. The researchers also hypothesized that smallholder farmers’ adoption of only specific components of the IBWP has a thwarting effect on their productivity and TE. Moreover, it was hypothesized that seed recycling substantially contribute to smallholder farmers’ technical inefficiency and productivity. The study collected both quantitative and qualitative data via interviews, focus group discussions, and observations from 450 sample respondents. Various statistical models, including dose-response, Cragg’s double hurdle, Stochastic Frontier Analysis with a translog function, and regression adjustment treatment effect models along with the Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), were employed to analyze the data. Farmers' seed rate applications were found to vary, and the study identified that the highest average wheat yield was associated with a seed rate of 50 kg/ha above the recommended level. A one-time bread wheat seed recycling after five consecutive times was found to reduce yield by 665 kg ha-1 compared to non-recycled seeds. The CBA indicated that while seed recycling reduces seed costs, the economic gains associated with using fresh improved bread wheat seed were significantly higher, resulting in improved yields and net income. The study identified various determinants of adoption intensity and found that access to improved fresh seed, membership in improved seeds multiplication and marketing cooperatives, age, longer years of experience; low dependency ratio, higher family size, Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU), and frequency of extension contact were significant reasons for the adoption of the entire package. Additionally, adopters of the entire bread wheat package had 8.24 quintals higher productivity per hectare than non-adopters. The analysis also revealed that several variables, including age, family size, Tropical Livestock Unit, dependency ratio, hand weeding frequency, row spacing, amount of credit, and membership in seed multiplication and marketing cooperatives, significantly impacted TE. The study also found that farmers using recycled seed had lower TE compared to those using fresh seed, highlighting the negative effects of seed recycling on TE. Overall, findings of the study provides a comprehensive understanding of the yield and cost implications of plot level seed rate application and seed recycling practices; the determinants of IBWP adoption intensity, impact of IBWP adoption intensity on smallholder farmers productivity and TE, and sources of smallholder farmers technical inefficiency in BWP. Generally, findings’ highlight the importance of using fresh seed, increasing access to improved seed, promoting full package adoption, and improving smallholder farmers’ TE in BWP. Creating wider access to fresh seeds by establishing agricultural credit schemes for seeds procurement, land consolidation through voluntary land exchange, and targeted price subsidies are strongly recommended to enhance farmers’ TE and Productivity. Besides, encouraging full package adoption by reinventing the existing practices in the package to suit the local context is strongly recommended. Implementing Farmer – to – Farmer extension method is strongly suggested to facilitate knowledge and experience sharing among farmers.
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Keywords
Bread wheat package, seed rate, seed recycling, adoption, technical efficiency, productivity