Impact Analysis of Row Planting Teff Crop Technology on Household Welfare:A Case Study of Smallholder Farmers of Duna District in Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Adoption of product increasing row planting agricultural technologies is a prerequisite for achieving agricultural growth and development, contributing towards improved rural household welfare. However, the link between row planting agricultural technology adoption and household welfare remains poorly understood due to lack of comprehensive measures of household welfare and the exclusive focus on measures such as crop yield and productivity outcomes. This study was designed to assess the adoption and impact of row planting of teff crop on smallholder farmer food consumption expenditure in Duna district using cross sectional survey data gathered in 2018/19 from a sample of 355 teff smallholder famers selected from six kebeles to represent major teff producers. Logit regression and propensity score matching (PSM) techniques were employed for data analysis. The results revealed that adoption of teff row planting technology had a significant positive impact on household welfare measured by higher annual crop yield as well as expenditures on food consumption. Logit regression results reveals that sex of household head, education of household head, family size of household head, holding of livestock, use of credit, extension services access and attending farmers’ training center were found to be important factors influencing farmers adoption decisions. The results confirm the role of row planting technology adoption in improving household welfare among smallholder farmers as higher crop yields from adoption translate into reduced poverty.

Keywords: Adoption, Teff, Impact, Propensity Score Matching, Row Planting Technology

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-5-02

Publication date:March 31^st 2020