Assessment of Factors Affecting Farmers’ Adoption level of Row Planting Technology and Yield Improvement on the Production of Eragrostis Teff [ZUCC.]: The Case of Minjar Shenkora Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
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2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main objective of this study is to assess farmers’ adoption level of teff row planting technology and the consequent improvement of yield and yield component achieved through the application of row planting technology on the process of teff production. Since teff is the most well known and widely consumed grain in Ethiopia for thousands of years, its importance beyond being staple food to the nations of the country is strongly tied to the socio-cultural settings of the country. Even though it is popularly consumed cereal, it was not given due attention the same as that of other grains in improving its productivity in major teff producing areas in the country. However, very recently with the provision of extension service to improve productivity of teff, row planting with the application of modern inputs have been introduced by MoA and its partners. Different reports and the media have reported that teff productivity has been increased wide spreading across the country. Therefore, to evaluate the impact of row planting technology on teff production and its challenges Minjar Senkora District is considered as a pilot area for its major production of teff. The two kebeles of Ararti Zuriyua and Korma are considered as a pilot area with purposive sampling. From the two sample kebeles a total of 113 respondents were considered for stratified and random sampling with 50 adopters and 63 non-adopters. Based on the findings of this study row planting technology improved the teff crop yield whereas its labor cost is very high compared to broadcasting. The quality of teff straw produced through row planting is very low for livestock fodder and construction material method. Due to adoption risk and vulnerability of teff production through row planting technology farmers in the study area prefer the application of broadcasting method of planting on account of its low labor cost, straw quality and application simplicity. The adoption of row planting method of teff sowing can be improved through farmers training in the demonstration centers and provision of row seeder machines.
Keywords: teff; row planting technology; adoption
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Teff, Row Planting Technology, Adoption