article · African Journal of Agricultural Research
Improving agricultural productivity remains central to the livelihoods of rural farm households. An investigation in Ethiopia evaluated how adopting improved wheat varieties influences the welfare of smallholder farmers. Based on survey data gathered from 150 farm households, the findings confirm that using these improved varieties has a positive and significant effect on overall household welfare. The likelihood of adopting improved wheat and the intensity of its use depend on several distinct socioeconomic and environmental factors. Key determinants include access to credit, the frequency of agricultural extension visits, soil fertility, plot size, off-farm employment, the age of the household head, farming experience, and distance to input markets. Consequently, increasing the uptake of such yield-enhancing agricultural technologies offers a direct pathway to strengthening smallholder welfare across rural farming communities.
Smallholder farmers in rural communities depend heavily on crop yields for their livelihoods. Demonstrating that improved wheat varieties raise household welfare provides clear evidence for agricultural development programmes. Understanding the barriers to adoption, such as market distance and limited credit, helps policymakers and extension services design targeted interventions that make yield-enhancing crop varieties accessible to the farmers who need them most.
The research evaluates the applied use of improved wheat seed varieties among smallholder farmers. Seed distributors, agricultural input providers, and rural credit institutions can use these insights to tailor distribution networks and financing products to smallholders located far from central markets. Because improved wheat varieties are already in practical field use, real-world scaling depends on strengthening market access, credit facilities, and extension support rather than basic product development.
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Agricultural production and productivity play a paramount role in the livelihood of rural farm households. Agricultural technology affects agricultural productivity and the welfare of rural farm households. However, there is a gap in knowledge on the effect of different technology adoptions on farm household’s welfare. This study examined the effect of improved wheat variety adoption on household’s welfare in Ethiopia. The study was based on cross-sectional data collected through a semi-structured questionnaire from 150 sample farm households. Double hurdle and Endogenous Switching Regression model were employed. The result indicates that the improved wheat variety adoption decision and intensity of adoption of farm households have determined by credit access, extension visits, soil fertility, plot size, off-farm employment, age of household head, distance from input market, and farm experience. The estimated model also revealed that adoption of improved wheat varieties has a positive and significant effect in enhancing farm household’s welfare. Therefore, adoption of yield-enhancing agricultural technologies should be more intensified to improve smallholder farmers’ welfare. Key words: Adoption, double hurdle, endogenous switching regression, impact, technology.
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DOI: 10.5897/ajar2019.14302
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