Determinants of Fertilizer Adoption in Crop Production; a Case Study in Shebedneo District, Sidama Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

: Soil fertility plays a vital role in the agricultural production for small holder farmers in Shebedno District. The fertile soil can provide nutritious production, healthy plants without pest, high yield and profit, and improves farmers livelihood. To inverse this situation, inorganic fertilizers are introduced to improve the land productivity. However, the low-income countries with less fertile soil results in low-production and food scarcity that leads to poverty. This impacts towards improvement depends on various socio-economic factors. This study examines the factor that influences fertilizer adoption on crop production in the case of Shebedno District Sidama Region. Here the data was collected from the primary sources in the cropping season. A Purposive sampling procedure is adapted to select seven kebeles and a total of 121 respondents from seven kebeles. Descriptive and inferential statistics are used to describe the socioeconomic and institutional characteristics of the respondent through percentages in both fertilizer-adopted and non-fertilizer-adopted farmers. Logit models were employed to identify factors influencing fertilizer adoption on crop production Regression results revealed that three explanatory variables such as extension services distance from credit office and family size are statically significant in affecting crop productivity. Therefore, contact with the extension agent, distance from the credit office, and family size are some of the important areas for the successful future intervention strategies aimed for the sustainable development in the agricultural sector and to increase the agricultural production .