Abstract:
Teff is the well-known and widely consumed grain in Ethiopia for thousands of years. Its
importance is beyond staple food to the people of the country, it is strongly tied with the socio-
cultural settings of the country. However, the national average yield of Teff is very low. In
recent years, farmers started row sowing method for wheat, maize, barley and sorghum.
Application of teff row planting method in Teff production is a vital means for Teff
productivity improvement. However, most farmers in the area still use broadcasting method of
sowing in Teff production. The factors that affect adoption of row planting method in teff
production in the area is not studies and documented. Therefore, the main aim of this study
was to assess the status of adoption of Teff row planting technique and its determinants as
well as to assess the yield difference between row planting and broadcasting practice on Teff
grain production. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used and data were collected
from 147 households at Basoliben District from January 18 to February 15, 2018. Three
kebeles in the district namely Yelemelemem, Yeduge and Yegelawu were selected purposively.
Structured interview schedule, key informant interview, and FGD were used to collect the
data. The data were checked for completeness, coded, entered, and analyzed using SPSS
version 20.0. Descriptive and inferential statistical technique such as X2
and t-test were also
used. Moreover, binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants of
adoption of Teff row planting practice. The result reveals that 53.1 percent of the respondents
adopt row planting method in the production of Teff in the study area. Educational status of
the household head, land size, number of livestock owned in tropical livestock unit and
household labor, participation in training, membership in local leadership and cooperative,
were found to have positive and significant effect on the adoption of row planting method in
Teff production at 1% and 5% significance level respectively. The study also revealed that
there was a significant yield difference between adopters and non-adopters of teff row
planting method. Therefore, the Woreda Office of Agriculture in collaboration with other
stakeholders must work intensively to improve adoption of Teff Row Planting method by the farmers in the study area.
