Statistical Analysis of Households’ Crop Production Decisions in Jimma Rare District, Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Crop production decision is an important for crop producers which increases the productivity of households to reduce food insecurity. This study aims at assessing the factors influencing households’ crop production decision in Jimma Rare District. Methods: The data was generated from primary source and 196 households were selected from Jimma Rare District using Multistage sampling techniques. Both descriptive statistics and econometric model (multinomial logit) were applied in this study to analyze the data collected from the selected sample households. Results: The study showed that, 39.30%, 19.90%, 32.70%, and 8.10% sampled households mainly use the combination of cereal crops, pulses, and oilseeds; cereal crop alone; the combination of cereal crops and pulses; and the combination of cereal crops and oilseeds respectively. The result of MNL model showed that age of household heads, education level of household heads, total land size, availability of agricultural inputs, access to agricultural infrastructure, and agro-ecological zone had significantly influenced crop production choices of households. Conclusion: The result suggests that different combinations of types of crops are influenced by differing independent variables. The result of MNL model showed that education level of household heads and availability of agricultural inputs are significantly and positively associated with the choice of cereal crops alone while total land size is significantly and negatively associated. On the other hand, availability of agricultural inputs, access to agricultural infrastructure, and agro-ecological zone are significantly and positively associated with the choice of cereal crops and pulses combination whereas total land size is significantly and negatively associated. Similarly, age and education level of household heads are significantly and positively associated with the choice of cereal crops and oilseeds combination while total land size is significantly and negatively associated as compared to combination of types of crops. Therefore, the study recommends that, improving access to training, availability of agricultural inputs at planting time, and preparing experience sharing among farmers should be promoted to increase the productivity of farmers by appropriate decision of crop production in the study area.

Keywords: Crop Production Decision, jimma Rare, Multinomial logistic regression model

DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-8-04

Publication date: August 31st 2019