Abstract:
Farm household participation in improved maize seed production program is more profitable
than non-improved maize seed, but it were constrained by inadequate and untimely supply of
inputs, inadequate extension contacts, unavailability of foundation seeds, inadequate capital,
perceived complexity of seed production techniques, high labour demand and market uncertainty
in that order. The objective of this research was to examine determinants of improved maize seed
multiplication and its impacts on participant farm household’s income in Omo Nada District,
Oromia region, Ethiopia. In this study, 336 household heads were randomly chosen using a two
stage sampling procedure in the first stage kebele was selected purposively and in the second
stage respondant’s were selectected randomly. The study was used both qualitative and
quantitative data type. Data were collected from both primary and secondary data sources.
Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire and secondary data were collected
from different sources. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and
econometric models. In order to analyze the data, both descriptive statistics and econometric
models (binary probit and propensity score matching) were used. The determinants influencing
smallholder farmers' in improved maize seed production were found using the probit models.
The study showed that 45.83% of sampled households were participant in improved maize seed
while the remaining 54.17 % are not participants. The results of the probit models showed that,
market information, family size, education levels, credit access, training participation, maize output
previous year, and extension contact had a significant positive effect on household participation in
improved maize seed, while price of input affect negatively. There was a significant disparity in
household income between those who were likely to participate in improved maize seed and
those who were not. According to the kernel matching estimates, participating in improved maize
seed had a causal impact on household income of about 3739.82 ETB. Hence, it is advisable to
implement interventions that will increase smallholder farmers' access to credit, agricultural
extension services, and training participation. The government and other stakeholders could
have developed the necessary policies to offer the rural population adequate and effective basic
educational opportunities, and development of productivity enhancement technique.
