Abstract:
Smallholder Vegetable growers differ in their level of access to agricultural information. Such
diversity among farmers could relate to various economic, social, personal, psychological,
institutional factors. Understanding reasons behind such diversity and farmers current level of
access to agricultural information is of paramount importance. The objectives of this study were
to assess smallholder vegetable growers’ access to agricultural information, major constraints
hindering smallholder vegetable growers from having access to agricultural information and
factors affecting access to agricultural information by smallholder vegetable growers. A twostage
sampling method was employed to select samples for this study. First three rural kebeles
were selected purposively. Second, systematic random sampling was used to draw 150 sampled
respondents from the three rural kebeles. The study considered probability proportional to size
to ensure proportional representation from the study kebeles. Primary data were collected from
the respondents through personal interview schedules, Focus Group Discussions and key
informant interviews. Secondary data were collected from district Office of Agricultural and
Rural Development and by reviewing relevant materials. The quantitative data was analyzed
using descriptive statistical tools, Statistical tests (chi-square, and ANOVA) and an econometric
model, (ordered logit model) were used to assess differences and to make deemed prediction of
factors underpinning access to agricultural information. The finding of the study shows that
majority of sample respondent fall into the low category of agricultural information access level.
The level of access to agricultural information of smallholder vegetable grower farmers
was significantly affected by, extension contact, distance to market, cosmopolitensess, access to
credit, social participation. The constraints that hold back farmers from access to agricultural
information were lack of Development Agents support, Development Agents-bias, long distance
to information providing institution, lack of money, inappropriate of information, lack of
awareness, lack of interest, lack of electricity. The study recommends that, policy and
development interventions in the study area should give emphasis to improvement of such
support so as to increase agricultural information accessibility which would ultimately increase
the productivity and income of smallholder vegetable grower farmers.
