Determinants Of Smallholder Farmers Participations In Cluster Farming Of Teff Production: The Case Of Ambo Woreda, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Currently, the government of Ethiopia is applying different policies and strategies to improve production and productivity of Agriculture. Among these, Cluster farming is the one which is widely used and has been using among farmers in different cash crops. Cluster farming is accepted as best means of achieving objective of improving Agricultural sector. However, it was not implemented by some farmers especially for Teff product, due to different factors. This study is, therefore, aimed to examine determinants of Cluster farming in Teff production of smallholder farmers in Ambo woreda. In the woreda, production technique is still traditional way and hence there is no such satisfactory production in Teff. In order to get information, simple random sampling technique was used to select appropriate sample size. Both qualitative and quantitative data type were used for analysis purpose. Descriptive statistics and Econometric model (Binary Logistic regression) were employed to analyze the data in order to achieve objectives of the study. The result of Econometric analysis shows variables such as cultivated land for teff, appropriate price for teff, income from teff, access to credit services, access to extension services, purpose of producing teff, are factors having positive and significant effect on participation in cluster farming. Variables like off-farm income and appropriate land are negatively significantly affecting probability of participation of farmers. Based on the result, the researcher recommended that, Government should provide inputs for agricultural production as general and for teff to specific. Additionally, farmers should focuse on cluster farming rather than traditional way of teff production in order to get more production. Lastly, any concerned bodies like NGOs shoul do on creating awareness on cluster farming to increase the land size allocated for teff production. In order to increase participation of cluster farming for teff, there is a need of improving provision of credit services, extension services, off farm income, purpose of producing teff and income from teff