Contribution Of Wheat Cluster Farming Practices To The Livelihood Improvement Of Smallholder Farmers: The Case Of Oromia Region’s Digalu Tijo Woreda, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study assessed the contribution of wheat cluster farming in improving smallholder farmer’s livelihood in Digalu Tijo Woreda of Oromia region. In this study both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied, and administered by semi structured and structured type of questionnaires. The structured questionnaires were used for household survey in which 178 respondents took part. These respondents were 84.76% male and 15.22% female, with 45.30366 mean of age. In addition to household head survey, three FGDs interviews consists of 24 farmers and three KIIs with implementers and main actors were conducted. For data analysis purpose, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as t-test comparison were applied. The finding of the study indicates, the cluster farming participants had access to structured farm management, agricultural technologies and training which helped them to increase yields. The descriptive analysis of the study revealed that average quintals per hectare of the farmers have shown increment from 15 to 29 quintals per hectare under cluster farming. The finding further indicates that there is 305 Birr mean monthly income difference between non cluster farming and cluster farming farmers. The result from t-test on the other hand also indicates there has been 11 quintals per hectare and 305.6 birr monthly income difference between non-cluster and cluster participants. As the data suggests, because of the increased income, cluster farming farmers are then able to build or and repair houses, send children to school, cloth the family member and cover medical expenses when compared to pre-cluster intervention. Having this finding, it has been concluded that when compared to pre-intervention and as per comparison with non-cluster farmers on the other hand, the finding indicates that the cluster farming farmers’ livelihood is improved. Nevertheless, the livelihood of the smallholder farmer’s might have improved beyond this if full cluster farming packages have been applied. The study revealed that the process did not help creating market linkage for the cluster farming participants that potentially affected market price of their crop. As part of addressing this challenge, while still nurturing other cluster packages, creating market linkage for the cluster farming participants has to be an area of focus.