Abstract:
This study was initiated with the objective of identifying determinants and extent of crop
diversification among smallholder farmers in Dendi District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia National
State, Ethiopia. For the purpose of the study data were collected from 145 samples of farmer’s
household heads by using primary data. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and econometric
model were used. The descriptive results of the study showed that 93 (64.14%) of the sampled
households head had diversified whereas 52 (35.86%) of the sampled households were nondiversifier. In this study binary logistic regression model was applied. In addition to that, odd
ratio and marginal effect of explanatory variables showed that among 11 explanatory variables,
seven, namely household size, household head age, household head sex, household head
education, access to improved seeds, access to fertilizer and attended training. Based on the
study results the researcher recommended that the government and other concerning bodies
should provide the family planning training to all society in the study area. It is also
recommended that, appropriate strategies like strengthening and expanding both formal and
informal types of education for the farmers in order to improve and make illiterate rural farmers
have a better understanding towards crop diversification in the study area. Additionally the
researcher forwarded that concerned bodies need to be designed policies and appropriate
strategies to create awareness of farmers in the study area though providing necessary training
to promote crop diversifying culture. The finding also suggests that the government need to
facilitate the fertilizer and improved seed availability for smallholder farmers to promote crop
diversification.
