The Impact of Improved Technology on Crop Productivity: A Case Study in Basona Worana Wereda, North Shewa, Amhara Region
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Date
2000-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
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.
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Keywords
Improved Technology