Factors Affecting Agricultural Extension Service Utilization for smallholder Crop Producers in Rural Kebeles of Gondar City Administration in Amhara Region of Ethiopia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine factors affecting agricultural extension service utilization by smallholder crop producers in Rural Kebeles of Gondar City Administration. A random sampling procedure was adopted to select four rural kebeles and a total of 192 sample respondents were selected. Data for this study were collected from primary and secondary sources during 2019. Descriptive statistics was used to describe factor that affect the service delivered from the extension. Data collected from different sources using various methods and techniques were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version20. The descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were employed. Conveying the inferential statics Binary logit regression model was used to explain the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The result of the model showed that extension contact, service provision on time, social position, Service based on need were statistically significant factors influencing timely service utilization practices positively. From a total of 18explanatory variables included in the model ,extension contact, social position, land size, extension service delivery based on need and agricultural extension service on time were found to be the most significant variables contributing to the practice of extension service utilization positively, while education status of the household head influence sit significantly but negatively. Therefore, the study suggests that getting service in time, land size, providing services based on need are some of the important priority areas for the success of future intervention strategies for crop production.