Determinants and Extent of Crop Diversification among Smallholder Farmers in Dendi District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia National State, Ethiopi

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.