Determinants of Malt Barley Commercialization and Its Impact on Income of Smallholder Farmers in Lemu-Bilbilo District, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The transition of smallholder farmers from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture is meant to increase smallholder farmers’ income and overall rural economic progress. Malt barley is both a food and cash crop that is considered to enhance smallholder farmer income in Ethiopia. This study was designed to analyze malt barley commercialization and its impact on smallholder farmers’ income in the Lemu Bilbilo district of the Arsi zone. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The primary data were collected by interview schedule, focus group discussion, and key informant interview. Combinations of purposive and simple random sampling procedures were employed to draw 340 sample households for the study