Yaregal Mulu Melesse

Adoption of Improved Varieties of Maize: a Case of Dilla Woreda Ethiopia; May 2011 Yaregal Mulu Melesse

The study was based on the data obtained from rural household survey during January2010-February 2010. Eight maize producing PAs (districts) were selected from the district and a total of 160 households were considered in the survey. Moreover, secondary data were obtained from various relevant sources. The study tried to investigate the status of adoption and factors influencing farmers? adoption behaviors. Variation in adoption among the sample households was assessed in view of various factors theoretically known to influence farmers? adoption behavior of new technologies and practically evaluated factors. A total of 24 explanatory variables were used in the estimation of the double hurdle model and nine variables were found to be significant in the first hurdle and six of the 24 were found to be significant in the second hurdle in influencing the probability of adoption and intensity of use of improved varieties of maize in the study area. The estimation results also revealed that the adoption decisions of improved maize varieties were mainly determined by respondents? characteristics, household composition variables, institutional variables and economic variables.