Abstract:
The practices of improved sheep production are getting importance but the participation of
smallholder farmers in improved sheep production was below expectation and not specific
studies to determinants of smallholder farmers’ participation in improved sheep production were
conducted. This study was conducted to analyze determinants of smallholder farmers'
participation in improved sheep production in the study area. For this study multi stages
sampling technique were used. Firstly, Doyogena district was selected purposively due to
existence experience and its accessibility. Secondly, three kebeles were selected by simple
random sampling and thirdly 144 survey respondents were selected by systematic sampling. Both
quantitative and qualitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources. The
methods of data collection were through survey, focus group discussions and key informants.
Quantitative data analyzed by descriptive statistics like mean, frequency, standard deviation,
range and inferential statistics of t-test and chi square (
2
) as well as logit model were
employed. Qualitative data which were collected from focus group discussions and key
informants were analyzed through narration and used for triangulation of survey data. The
result of the study indicated that out of the 144 samples, participants and non-participants were
51and 93 respectively. Determinants of participation which identified in this study area were
household labour, age,, frequency of contacts with development agents, membership to
cooperatives, land size owned, participation in credit and off-farm income. Participation in
improved sheep production made significant impact between participants and non-participants
households’ income. In general, participation of smallholder farmers in improved sheep
production influenced by different determinants. Future effort through effective policy should be
intended to accelerate agricultural and rural development through effective utilization of
improved sheep potential regarding smallholder farmers in study area particularly and in
Ethiopia generally.
