Constraints and Opportunities of Maize, Teff and Wheat Production: The Case of Ambo s and Toke Kuttaye Districts, West Showa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, agriculture accounts for about 85% of the working forces, 90% of exports and 50% of the total gross domestic product (GDP). Agriculture is the main stay of the country. The study was initiated with the objective of Assessments of constraints and Opportunities of Maize,Teff and wheat production. The study used multi stage random sampling techniques. At first stage, from the existing districts in West Shawa Zone, two districts were selected based on their relative importance with respect to staple food crop production potential and their accessibility purposively. At the second stage, Six PAs, was selected randomly by random sampling method. At the third stage, probability proportional’s to size (PPS) were used to select respondents for interview. Accordingly a sample of 180 house hold heads was selected for interview. The major constraints of the study area were found to be: Crop worm and disease, Price problem, lack of inputs (chemicals, Fertilizers, Seed, etc.,). Lack of appropriate threshing facilities and storage facilities, high post harvest losses, lack of farming oxen, lack of rural credits, lack of education and lack of rural feeder roads. Major opportunities of the study area were found to be, availability of irrigable land, availability of fertile land, availability of motivated and hard working farmers, location of the districts for agricultural marketing’s and good weather condition. Policies, plans and programs should target this rural community. The construction of rural feeder roads, either, mechanization of the farming sector or provision of sufficient farming oxen is indispensible, provision of rural education programs are required, policy makers should focus in provisions of rural credit facilities with reasonable interest rates, crop worms and diseases should be controlled, price for inputs and outputs should be intervened.

Keywords: Constraints, Opportunities, Rural households, Rural Credits, Modern Technologies