AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION ACCESS OF SMALLHOLDER VEGETABLE GROWER FARMERS: THE CASE OF HARAMAYA DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE ZONE, ETHIOPIA

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.