Adoption of ImprovedMalt-Barleyamong Smallholder Farmers: The case ofJanamoraWoreda, North Gondar zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia has favorable environment for malting barley production. However, the production ofmalt barley is low and itis mainly associated with non-adoption of the recommended malt barleyproduction packages were among the major problems.The objectives of this study were toidentify factors influencing adoption and intensity of adoption of improved malt barleytechnology package in JanamoraWoreda and to assess farmers’ perception on improved Malt-barley technology package in the study areas.So, multi stage sampling procedure was followedto select households for the study. JanamoraWoredawas selected purposively.A total of threeKebeles were selected randomly. Adopters and non-adopters were selected using proportional tosize based on the number of malt barley growers in each Kebeles. Finally, 150 household headswere selected randomly using probabilityproportional to size sampling technique. Structuredinterview schedule was developed, pre-tested and used for collecting the essential from thesampled households. In addition, focus group discussion and key informant interview wereconducted to generate qualitative data.Descriptive statistics and econometric models were used toanalyze the data. Tobit model was used to analyze the factors influencing the adoption intensity ofimproved malt barley production technology packages Results of the study revealed thatrespondent farmers were found to use mainly improved malt barley variety from therecommended package practices, while there are variations among farmers in intensity ofadoption of these components. Farmers’ practice was also found largely deviated from researchrecommendations especially in the use of seed rate, inorganic fertilizers, and chemicals.Moreover, results Tobit model indicated that education level, labor, and farm income werepositivelyand significantly influencedon adoption and intensity of adoption of improved maltbarley production package. On the other hand, age of the household head,distancefrom home tofarm and market had shown negative and significant relationship with adoption and intensity ofadoption of improved malt barley production package. The overall finding of the studyunderlined the importance of institutional support in the areas of extension, credit, transport andtraining accesses to enhance adoption of improved malt barley production package. Therefore,agricultural policy and development interventions should be given emphasis to the improvementof such institutional support system and farmers’ behavioral factors so as to achieve wideradoption, increased productivity and income to small scale farmers.