Determinants of Potato Marketed Surplus Among Smallholder Farmers in Sekela District, West Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

For Sekela Woreda smallholder potato producers, potato has significant contribution for consumption at home which increase food security and in generating cash income. Therefore, enhancing potato producers’ access to market and linking them to most beneficial outlets is a key issue needed in the study area. This paper was aimed to identify factors affecting marketed surplus potato farmers using survey data collected from randomly selected 130 farmers from six kebeles were randomly and proportionately sampled to collect both secondary and primary sources. Descriptive statistics was used for characterizing farmers and econometrics analysis was used for identifying determinants of marketed surplus. The result of econometric analysis from OLS marketed surplus model revealed that distance to the nearest market, use of improved seed, frequency of extension contact, area of land allocated for potato and yield of potato significantly determined quantity of potato supplied to the market. Based on the finding the government and other stakeholders need to focus on strengthening improved seed access, strengthening rural-urban infrastructure, expanding market access, improving land management practices and yield through strengthening extension service in order to accelerate market chain development.

Keywords: Marketed surplus, Potato, Multiple linear regression

DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/83-06