Determinants of Volume Sales among Smallholders Potato Farmers in Ejere District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Region of Ethiopia

Abstract

This research attempted to analyze the determinants of potato in Ejere district, Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Potato plays a significant role in increasing food security and income for the poor farmers of Ethiopia. Data for the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were generated by household survey using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and key informant interview using checklists. The data were collected from 78 farmers and analyzed using STATA software. The two-stage least square regression model results showed that five variables such as productivity of potato, sex of household head, distance to nearest market, off/non-farm income and area of land allocated for potato significantly affect the volume of potato supplied to the market. Policy implications drawn from the study findings include the need to improve farmers’ knowledge and experience on vegetable production, encouraging off/non-farm income, improving productivity and intensification of land for potato, encouraging female in production of potato and expanding accessibility of market infrastructure and strengthening supportive institutions.

Keywords: Volume sales; Potato; Two stage least square regressions; Smallholder; Ejere.