SMALL HOLDER FARMERS PARTICIPATION IN PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF SESAME CROP: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS IN THE CASE OF KAMBA DISTRICT OF GAMO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Participation in cash crop production in rural households is a vital strategy in assuring better income and a key factor to lifting rural households from poverty. The aim of this study was to analyze factors influencing farmers participation in production participation, extent of participation, market supply, and assessing marketing performance of sesame crop among smallholder farmers’ in Kamba district of Gamo zone; southern Ethiopia. The study employed cross-sectional data collected from randomly selected 380 household heads during 2018/19 production season. Both descriptive statistics and econometric model applied. The econometrics model such as Double hurdle and multiple regression models were applied to analyze the data. S-c-p paradigm model is also used to assess the performance of sesame market in the study area by only employing channel analyze and market margin determination. The results of the study attests that farm landholding size, distance to extension service, sex, off-farm activities, distance to nearest market and education level significantly explain the decision to produce sesame. On other hand, the farm size, farming experience, number of active labor and staple food availability determine the level of sesame production participation considerably. Furthermore, the study will expected to verify farm size, distance to extension service center, family size, market price, and education level significantly determines the market supply of sesame in the study area. The implication is that livelihood improvement could be assisted through better participation of smallholders in sesame production and marketing in the area. Farm size is an important variable which influences both production decision and extent of farmers’ participation in sesame product.