Determinants of Adoption of Teff Row Planting Practice: The Case of Baso Liben Woreda, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethopia

Abstract

The factors that affect adoption of row planting method in teff production in the area is not studies and documented. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the status of adoption of Teff row planting technique and its determinants as well as to assess the yield difference between row planting and broadcasting practice on Teff grain production. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used and data were collected from 147 households. Three kebeles in the woreda namely: Yelemelemem, Yeduge and Yegelawu were selected purposively. Structured interview schedule, key informant interview, and focus group discussion were used to collect the data. The data were checked for completeness, coded, entered, and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive and inferential statistical technique such as chisquare test and t-test were also used. Moreover, binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants of adoption of Teff row planting practice. The result reveals that 53.1 percent of the respondents implemented the recommended spacing between plants in the production of Teff in the study area. Educational status of the household head, household labor, land size, participation in training, membership in the association, and number of livestock owned in tropical livestock unit were found to have positive and significant effect on the adoption of recommended spacing in Teff production at 1% significance level. The study also revealed that there was a significant yield difference between adopters and non-adopters of recommended spacing. Therefore, the Woreda Office of Agriculture in collaboration with other stakeholders should work intensively to improve adoption of Teff Row Planting technology by the farmers in