Abstract:
Agriculture is a dominant sector of the Ethiopian economy and a lion share contributor to the
gross domestic product, employment and foreign exchange earnings. The improvement of this
sector promotes the livelihood of the vast population which mainly depends on farming.
Extensive adoption of improved agricultural technologies such as improved seed varieties (in
this case sorghum) plays vital role in reversing the present situation of prolonged food
insecurity in many parts of Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to identify factors
that determine adoption of improved sorghum varieties and to identify the determinants of
farmers’ choice of different sorghum varieties. The study used a primary data collected from
204 randomly selected sorghum producing farmers through structured interview schedule
from four randomly selected Kebeles in Gondar Zuria District. Moreover, secondary data from
regular statistical reports such as CSA, and other published and unpublished sources were
reviewed. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and logit and multinomial
probit econometric models. In the logit model, five variables were found to significantly affect
adoption of improved sorghum varieties. These are credit (+), extension contact (+), off-farm
income (+), farm size (+) and proportion of sorghum area (-). Thus what is needed from any
development agents is that they should have to establish a credit scheme to support the farmers
so that they can acquire improved sorghum variety and other inputs to boost production and
productivity. Moreover extension contact between farmers and extension agents should be
further strengthened, encourage farmers to participate in different extension programs
regarding sorghum production improvement. Results of multinomial probit model revealed
that age, credit, proportion of sorghum area, extension contact, farm size, off-farm income,
irrigated land, and shortage of labor were variables that significantly explain the choice of
sorghum varieties. Accordingly development and distribution of different sorghum varieties
should be based up on the diverse socioeconomic and institutional characteristics that resides
in the farming communities.
