Determinants in utilizing improved agricultural technologies for enhancing sorghum production in Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper examines the factors affecting in adoption of improved agricultural technologies in sorghum production in Tigray region, Ethiopia. A total of 284 farm households drawn from three districts of the region were included in the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using semi-structural questionnaires in 2019. A multivariate probit model and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data. This study analyzes the factors that affect the adoption of improved agricultural technologies in sorghum production including, seeds of improved variety, inorganic fertilizer application, row planting, insecticide and pesticide chemicals and moisture conservation. The result indicates the probability to adopt the improved agricultural technologies in sorghum production were significantly influenced by factors such as; family size education status, participating in off-farm income, farm size, extension service, and distance to farmers training center. Though the smallholder farmers had better adoption indices, the technology wouldn't disseminate in large number of beneficiaries and areas. As a result, the adoption is foreseen to be low. Therefore, to improve the adoption of improved agricultural technologies in sorghum production giving more emphasize would be important to be offered the extension services like training, field days, experience sharing, technical support, and information on markets and pests & diseases control to the farmers.