Abstract:
This study investigated farmers’ preferences for teff variety traits and its determinants using a
choice experiment approach in Sebeta Awas woreda. Most of previous studies have explored
farmer preferences for Teff variety traits, many lacks geographic focus and Teff variety
attributes like Yield, Disease Resistance and price. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to
select the sample respondents for the study. Data was collected from 385 farmers through a
structured survey instrument that included farmer demographics, farm household
characteristics, and a choice experiment component. The choice experiment presented farmers
with hypothetical scenarios featuring teff varieties described by key attributes: yield
(quintal/hectare), disease resistance (low, medium, high), and price (Birr per kilogram).
Farmers were asked to select the variety they would be most likely to plant in their fields. A two stage modeling approach was used to analyze the data. The first stage employed a multinomial
probit choice model to estimate the average effects of variety and farmer’s characteristics on
farmers' preferences. The second stage utilized a mixed logit choice model to account for
heterogeneity in preferences across farmers. The findings of this study revealed three primary
attributes shaping variety selection: high yield potential, disease resistance, and economic
viability. Notably, education level, family size, and landholding size positively influenced the
preference for high-yielding varieties. Additionally, access to crucial resources like irrigation,
extension services, and market information played a significant role. Furthermore, the analysis
demonstrated a greater openness to adopting new varieties among more experienced farmers. A
key finding emerged regarding the interaction between yield potential and price. Farmers
exhibited increased sensitivity to price as the potential yield of a variety grew. Additionally, the
study identified a positive correlation between landholding size and the preference for disease resistant varieties. These insights contribute significantly to the understanding of economic
factors influencing teff variety selection. This knowledge empowers policymakers, extension
service providers, and seed developers to design targeted interventions that promote the
adoption of improved teff varieties. Ultimately, such interventions hold the potential to enhance
agricultural productivity, resilience, food security, and rural livelihoods for Ethiopian farmers.
