Determinants of smallholder farmers' Participation in inimproved sheep production: the Case of doyogena district, Kembata tembaro zone, Southern Ethiopia

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.