ADOPTION OF MODERN AGRICULTURAL INPUTS TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

It is generally accepted that adoption of modern agricultural input technology has significant contribution to increase productivity of smallholders’ farmers. However the performance of farmers’ adoption of modern agricultural input technology in Godere Woreda is low. So, this study was done to investigate the major factors affecting adoption of modern agricultural input technology and the productivity of smallholder farmers in Godere Woreda. Descriptive statistics and econometric binary logit model were employed to analyze the data.Both primary and secondary data were also employed in getting the necessary information for the analysis of the study. A total of 360 sample respondents were identified using cluster and simple random sampling technique. The result of the study shows that, 41.1% and 53.9% of farmers in the woreda were adopters of modern agricultural technology and non adopter respectively. Among the 12 explanatory variables included in the model, 8 variables have statistically significant effect on adoption of modern agricultural input technology, only four of them are found to be statistically insignificant to affect the dependent variable. education level, family size, extension service positive and significant at 1% .farm size, access to credit positive and significant at 5%.off-farm participation and number of oxen positive and significant at 10%. Sex, age, membership of association, distance to the nearest market of the smallholder farm head is statistically insignificant to technology adoption in the study area. Therefore, attention should be given by the policy makers and other concerned bodies to develop supportive programs to solve the constraints and difficulties facing smallholder farmers.