Determinants of Adoption of Gellila Tomato Variety among SmallholderFarmers: ACase of Dera District,Amhara Region,Ethiopia

Abstract

Agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy. In the study areaGellila tomato wasintroduced through SNV project demonstration in 2013 and it experienced by fewhouseholds sixyears ago (2015).Therefore this study intends to identify what factors are affecting the adoptionof improved tomato variety. Primary and secondary data sources were used for theaccomplishment of the study.In this research a multi stage sampling procedurewasemployed.The sample size determined using Yamane’s formula that150 household headswere allocated tosample kebeles based onPPSand then selectedusing systematic random sampling.During dataanalysis binary logit model, descriptive statistics and inferential statisticswereused.The binarylogit model result indicated that sex of household and Land size were negatively significant whileEducation status of the household head, household size, contact with extension agent, access tocredit, and annual household income were alsohadPositively and significantly related with theadoption of Gellila tomato variety.The challengesto Gellila tomato variety productionidentifiedby farmerswere diseases and pests, high input prices, unpredictable climate changeandpoorpost-harvest handling with management.Theopportunities wererequires short period of time togrow,presence of development agents and high population demand of variety.Based on thefindings the government should focus on strengthening the Dera district Agriculturaleducation,credit access, infrastructure developmentand improvingAgriculturalextension system throughmass media, extension serviceand other means of capacity building toincrease adoption of newtechnologybyfarmers