FACTORS AFFECTING ADOPTION OF IMPROVED POTATO VARIETIES: THE CASE OF JELDU DISTRICT, WEST SHEWA ZONE OF OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Potato is the most important root crop in Jeldu district, which is used for home consumption and market. However, lower production and productivity, and lower rate of adoption of improved potato varieties were the major problems constraining the potential benefit that can be obtained from the sector in the study area. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to identify factors that affect adoption and intensity of adoption of improved potato varieties in Jeldu district. The study used both primary and secondary data to achieve the objectives. The primary data were obtained from 140 sample households and a two-stage-sampling technique was used. Descriptive statistics and double hurdle model were employed for analyzing the data. The findings of the study indicated that adoption of improved potato varieties were positively and significantly influenced by sex, access to extension agent, livestock ownership, and farmers’ perception toward attributes of improved potato varieties yield. However, distance to the nearest market had negative and significant effect on the adoption of improved potato varieties. The Truncated regression result revealed that perception toward attributes of improved potato varieties yield, family size, livestock ownership and membership to cooperatives positively and significantly affected the proportion of land allocated for improved potato varieties. Based on the findings, it is recommended that policy makers and technical institutions should target these factors to facilitate adoption of improved potato varieties that will improve agricultural productivity and hence reduce the food insecurity problem in the study area.