Abstract:
Adoption of improved technologies is one of the most promising ways to reduce food
insecurity in Ethiopia. However, the adoption and dissemination of these technologies is
constrained by various factors. The objective of this study was therefore, to identify factors
that determine adoption and intensity of improved bread wheat varieties adoption and to
examine the farmers’ perception towards the adoption of improved bread wheat varieties in
Lemo woreda Hadiya zone. Multi- stage sampling procedure was followed to select peasant
associations and households head for the study. The woreda was purposively selected. Three
peasant associations were selected randomly, and 178 households were randomly selected
using probability proportional to size. Structured interview schedule was developed, pretested and used for collecting the essential quantitative data for the study from the sampled
households. Focus group discussion was used to generate qualitative data. In addition,
secondary data were collected from relevant sources such as journals, zonal and district level
agriculture and rural development offices. Likert scale level of farmers ranking of varieties
preference criteria and double hurdle model were employed to identify farmers’ perception
on adoption and to identify factors that influence the adoption decision and intensity of
improved bread wheat varieties adoption respectively. The findings of this study indicated
that, about 53.9% are adopters and 46.1% are non- adopters in the study area. The result of
preference ranking showed that high yielding potential, disease resistance capacity, early
maturity, and environmental adaptability of varieties relatively best performance of varieties
in the study area. Double hurdle model analysis results showed that improved bread wheat
varieties adoption decision of farm households has positively and significantly determined by
education, land size, membership in cooperatives, improved bread wheat seed availability on
time, and frequency to extension contact. With regard to the intensity of improved bread
wheat varieties adoption, was affected by sex of household head, membership in cooperative
and credit access positively and significantly, but total livestock unit and off/non-farm income
were affected negatively and significantly. The overall finding of the study underlined the high
importance of institutional support in the areas of strengthening farmers’ cooperatives,
facilitating formal credit service, improving seed access, strengthening the existing extension
service to enhance adoption and intensity of improved bread wheat varieties adoption.
Furthermore, high yielding, disease resistance and early maturity varieties should get
attention in order to improve the current adoption level of improved bread wheat varieties in the
area.
