THE ADOPTION OF BREAD WHEAT (KUBSA) VARIETY AND ITS EFFECTS ON AGRO-PASTORAL HOUSEHOLD FARM INCOME IN AWBARE WOREDA, SOMALI REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) is one of the most important cereal crops grown in Awbare woreda mainly for improving households’ income as compared to other cereal crops. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the status of adoption of improved bread wheat variety of the Agro-pastoral households in Awbare woreda, Somali Regional State, to identify the factors affecting adoption of improved bread wheat variety and the effect of adoption by itself on household’s farm income in the study area. In order to achieve these objectives, cross-sectional data on demographic, socio-economic characteristics and institutional aspects were collected from 151 randomly selected households in five Kebeles based on probability proportional to size through semi-structured interview schedule and focus group discussion. Descriptive statistics, like mean, standard deviation and percentage were used to compare the two groups (non-adaptors and adaptors). Univariate analysis such as t-test, Chi-square (𝜒2) test and binary Logit as well as multiple linear regressions were used to achieve the stated objectives. The results from descriptive statistics showed that out of the total surveyed households, 64.9 percent were non-adaptors whereas only 35.1 were adaptors for more than 3 years. The binary logit model outputs showedthat among the twelve variables, eight variables had a significant effect on adoption of improved bread wheat (Kubsa) variety. Among the significant variables’ education, household labor size, total cultivated land size, use of credit, remittance and DA contacts were positive relation with adoption, while the remaining significant variables such as sex, and distance to market, were negatively related with adapting the improved wheat of the households in the study area. Furthermore, the results from multiple linear regression models indicated that adoption of improved bread wheat (Kubsa) variety of the household had a positive and significant effect on aggro-pastoral household income. This implies that practicing and growing improved bread wheat (Kubsa) variety would probably increase production yield which in turn contributed to household farm income. Therefore, there is a need to promote and improve the adoption status through availing the recommended wheat technology packages for aggro-pastoral households and improving institutional and extension services facilities