Determinants of teff farm production/output level in South Achefer District, West-Gojjam zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Agricultural productivity growth is a prerequisite for economic growth and poverty reduction as well as food and Nutrition security in agro-based economies such as Ethiopia.Among agricultural product,Teff is one of the dominant crops and its productivity is low in south Achefer district. This meansthat it is possible to obtained additional output from existing inputs used, if resource are properly used and efficiently allocated. The aim of this study is to analyze the determinants of the level of teff production in smallholder farmers. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 151 sample farmers. Quantitative data were collected through individual survey based structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were designed and formulated to collect information about socio-economic and demographic determinants of teff production level from sampled farm house holds to obtain data pertaining to teff production during 2012/2013 E.C production year. A Cobb-Douglas translog production model was used to estimate productivity and identify the determinants of productivity of teff producing farmers. The parameter estimation showed that teff output was positively and significantly influenced by farm size, fertilizer, labour, credit access, age, education, manure, pesticide and number of oxen. This would mean that there is a room to increase teffoutput from the existing levelof teff output if farmers are able to use these input variables in an efficient manner.