Extension Service and Smallholder Agriculture in Achefer Woreda of Amhara Region
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Date
1994
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Publisher
AAU
Abstract
This stud y tri es 10 pa may the interac ti on between smallho lder agriculture and c\h: n
service in Achcfer \Voreda of Amhara Region. Different methods of data collectio n arc
employed 10 generale reliab le dala 10 the desc ription of th e interac tion between ext ension servIce
and small holder agri culture. The stud y a lso rev iews th e th eoretical background and the Ethiopian
experience in agricultural extension.
The study foc lL ses on twO areas. The first area is the description and anal ysis of the soc io economi c fa ctors, which ma y hinder or facilitate the adoption of innovation. The second poinl is
Ih e socia -economic impact of extension service on sma llholder agriculture with in th e framework
o f agricultural ex tension.
The study identifi es land and oxen as a major constraint to the adoplion innovation.
Although labour is an imp0l1anl fa ctor in smallholder agriculture, it is nol found in the kcbcle as
basic as land and oxen in the adoption of innovation. The local arrangemen ts in the form of
II'OIl!cJ./emcm/ .II'ohem allows the now o f labour amon g households in crili ca llimes. Tlllwd as a
means o f access to bOl h land and oxen allow th e now of Ihese resources among households.
A/ckel/lljo as a means of access 10 oxen also has en;lbl ed the two households 10 combine thei r
single ox reso urces for mutual bene fit. It argues thaI some o f local arrangements like /llIIad as
access to oxen shed light on the prospect of overcomi ng oxen constraints with the proper
adopti on of innovation. It also desc ribes c redit and Illarketin g as one of import ant factors to the
adoption of innovation. This study identi fi es that a delay on the availability of inputs is a major
constraint in the adopti on of innovation. It demonstrates that agricultural extension is a very good
institution to improve the smallholde r agriculture in the kebcJe, though it has limitation in some
aspects.
The study has also demonst rated the considerab le impacts of extension service on the
smallholder agriculture. It desc ribes its impact in the fonn of cultivation, Productivity. croppi ng
patlcms and houschold economi c imp rovelllents. It also identifies areas like agricultural
implement where agricultural ext ension has not yet made signifi cant impacts. Some of the
impacts seem to lack continuity. It :lrgucs th e need to :lddress some problems associ atcd with th e
imp:lct o f extension servi ce 011 dietary changes and dec line of productivity.
The role o f the extension service in the stud y are'l in tenllS o f introduc ing beHc r natural
resources management practices is very minimal and insignificant as compared to its impact 0 11
crop production. Change in the level of prod uctivity has also brought improvements in the
household economic status. The study has also identified some of the trends in socio-cult ura l
changes, resource utilization and hOllsehold furni ture.