Determinants of Teff Row Planting Technology Adoption: The Case of North Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Row planting is one of the technologies introduced in Ethiopia to improve production and productivity of the major crops. However, the rate of adopting the technology decline from time to time. Thus, this study aims to identify factors affecting adoption level and intensity use of Teff row planting technology in the selected districts of North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. Multi-stage random sampling techniques were used to select 400 respondents. Adoption index, independent sample mean t-test, chi-square test and double hurdle model were used for data analysis. The results of adoption index reveals that among 400 sample households, 79.8% was non-adopter while 20.2% were adopter of Teff row planting technology. A total of 10 variables were hypothesized to affect the adoption level and intensity use of Teff row planting technology in the study area. Among these, 6 variables had significant effect on adoption level of Teff row planting technology while 4 variables had significant effect on the intensity use of Teff row planting technology. Accordingly, the experience of household in Teff production, education level of household head, family size, extension contact, credit utilization and demonstration site visit had positive and significant effect on the adoption level of Teff row planting technology adoption at 1, 1, 5, 1, 1 and 1% significance level respectively. Moreover, family size, education level of household head, frequency of extension contacts and demonstration site visit had positive and significant effect on the intensity use of Teff row planting technology at 10, 1, 1 and 1% significant level respectively. Hence, in order to increase the households’ adoption level and intensity use of Teff row planting technology in the study area, strengthening the extension services, improving the education level of the households, strengthening the credit services and expanding the demonstration site should be the focus area of the policy makers.