ADOPTION OF IMPROVED MAIZEBH-661VARIETY: THECASEOFGONCHA SISO ENESIEDISTRICT, EAST GOJJAM ZONE, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Theadoption of improved BH-661 maize Varietywas influenced by different factors in thestudyarea.However, the rate of adoptionof improved BH-661 improved maize varietywasstill slow.Therefore, the studywasintended to study the different factors that affectadoption ofimproved maizevariety; analyzegender disparity in improved maize productionactivitiesandidentify knowledge gapsof farmers related to improve maizeactivities in Goncha Siso Ensiedistrict. The studyused cross-sectional data in 2016/2017-2017/2018production season fromthe sample of 120 household heads through multi-stage sampling techniques. Householdinterview, key informant interviewand focus group discussionwere the main data collectionmethods. Descriptive and econometric model wereemployed toanalyze the data. The binarylogit model wasused to identify factors affecting adoption decision of improved maizevariety.The results revealed that age, education, landsize, livestock, farm income, credit, extensioncontact, training, social participation,andaccess to informationaresignificant factors thataffect adoption of maize HB-661 variety.The intensity of knowledgegap between adopter andnon-adopterhada positiveand significant among them.Based on this finding, the governmentof Ethiopia, should provide credit access,at affordable and interest rate and DAs, expertsandoffice of agriculture’s should provide and strength training facilities,consistenceextensionservice to increaseeducation level of households, and accessing different improved livestockand crop variety to increase their annual income of households.