Abstract:
Low produce of wheat which is partly due to poor agronomic practices remain a major concern in Ethiopia. To enhance wheat yield, adoption and management practices as part of agricultural extension activities are implement but yield remained low. The specific objectives of this study were to assess the pattern of adoption of improved wheat seed and to analyze the factors influencing adoption of improved wheat seed by farmers. The study was based on primary data collected from 140 sample selected at random sampling using questionnaire. A cross-sectional research design was used. MidaKegn District was selected purposively and sample respondents were selected from sample frame based on random sampling techniques. Additional information was obtained from focus group discussion, key informant interview and personal observation. The data has been analyzed by descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and econometric model (binary logistic regression) using SPSS software. Qualitative data were used to substantiate the responses of questionnaire. About 21.1% and 18.0% from non-adopters and adopter’s use improve wheat variety, while about 18.9% and 34% from Non-adopters and adopter’s use local wheat variety in the study area, respectively. About 72.6% of respondents were engaged in off-farm income generating activities while 27.4% had not participated in off farm activities and there was statistically significant difference between adopters and non-adopters. Analysis of chi-square tests revealed that there was statistically significant mean difference among adoption categories (χ2=6.145, P= 0.013) in relation to fertilizer use at P<0.05% probability level. Between households who were interviewed, about 74.8 % had connection with extension agents and shared information regarding wheat production varieties, whereas the remaining 25.2% had no contact. The result of the study showed that the explanatory variables use of seed, use of chemical, use of fertilizer, income of household and use of credit were statistically significant at 1% and positively influence adoption of wheat seed and education level of the household, and contact of extension service were statistically significant at 5% and positively influence adoption of wheat seed. Therefore, the study concludes that, Policies and strategies that focus on farmers’ education, implementation of well-established extension package, linkages of farmers, researchers, development agent, and entire stakeholders are helpful so as to achieve wider adoption of wheat technology of smallholder farmer
