ADOPTION OF IMPROVED POTATO PRODUCTION PACKAGES, HARAMAYA DISTRICT, EASTERN HARARGE ZONE,OROMIYA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important vegetable categorized under tuber crops. Potatoes are the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat and the leading vegetable crop in United States. Ethiopia has an enormous potential for production of vegetable crops in general and particular and it is also among the most important export crops. Potato is one the most important vegetable crops grown in the study area, Haramaya, It contributes to the major share of cash source, and food security. Currently, production and productivity of potato in Ethiopia are very low. The objectives of this study were Assess the status of adoption of improved potato production package in the study area and to examine factors limiting improved potato production package in the study area. This study interviewed 122 sample household. In this study data were collected and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Quantitative data analysis method were employed mainly with chi-square, F-test and Tobit model using SPSS and Stata computer software .The result of this study revealed that respondent farmers were found to use mainly improved potato variety and fertilizer from the recommended package practices are low. Among the 122 sample respondents, 76 (62.3%) were adopter while 46(37.7%) non –adopters. Moreover, results of the econometric model indicated that sex of the household head, educational level of the household head, annual farm income, credit use, participation in extension events and farmers knowledge about improved potato production package were important variables which had positively and significantly influenced adoption and intensity of adoption of improved potato production package. On the other hand, market distance had shown negative and significant relationship with adoption and intensity of adoption of improved potato production package. The overall finding of the study underlined the high importance of institutional support in the areas of extension, credit service and market to enhance adoption of improved potato production package. Therefore, policy and development interventions should give emphasis to improvement of such institutional support system so as to achieve wider adoption, increased productivity and income to small scale farmer