Determinants Of Improved Maize Seed Multiplication and Its Impacts on Farmers Income in Omo-Nada District Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, Southwest Ethiopia

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.