Determinants of Inorganic Fertilizer Adoption: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Gimbo District South West Region Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was initiated to assess the determinants of inorganic fertilizer adoption by smallholder farmers in Teka and Shomba sheko kebeles of Ginbo district, Ethiopia.  Multi stage sampling procedure was applied to select the appropriate sample size. The primary data were collected from 77 adopters and 58 non-adopters households using semi structured questionnaire. In analyzing the collected data, descriptive and inferential statistics were employed. Importantly, logit econometric model were used to identify determinants of inorganic fertilizer adoption. The finding of the study shows that, the probability of adopting inorganic fertilizer was positively affected by variables such as, access to credit, access to radio, level of education, non-farm income, frequency of extension contact, farm experience and farm size. Therefore, in order to increase the adoption of inorganic fertilizer in the study area, the government bodies who are concerned for adoption of inorganic fertilizer should focus on awareness creation, strategies that can enhance households’ non-farm income and a reduction in the interest rate, bureaucracies and collaterals of banks on loans which will facilitate credit accessibility to smallholder farmers.

Keywords: Inorganic fertilizer, Logit, Gimbo District, Ethiopia

DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-5-01

Publication date:July 31^st 2023