Adoption of Maize Production Technologies in the Bako Area: Western Shewa and Welega Regions of Ethiopia

Abstract

In the Bako area fanners grow chiefly maize; other important crops are tef, noug, and pepper. Currently, maize is one of the national commodity crops in which substantial resources are being allocated to support research and extension. At Bako Research Center, which is the national maize research coordinating center, many maize technologies have been developed over the years and efforts have been made to transfer these technologies to farmers in the area. However, the extent to which these maize technologies have been adopted and the problems encountered have not been as- (sessed. The objectives of this study were to deter­ and to identify the factors affecting their adoption. mine the level of adoption of these technologies The survey of farmers was conducted from September 1989 to January 1990. A multistage sampling procedure was used to draw a sample of 100 farmers from 20 peasant associations (PAs) in 5 weredas around Bako—Chelya, Gobu Sayo, Bako Tibe, Sibu Sire, and Wayutuka (mid-altitude areas of Western Shewa and Welega Regions). Farmers were interviewed using structured questionnaires administered by 10 enumerators from the survey area who spoke the local language. Data from secondary sources were also used. The rainfall in the study area is fairly reliable, with a unimodal distribution pattern. About 80% of the rain falls between May and September. November to February is the dry season. The mean annual temperature is 20.4°C. The topography ranges from gently undulating to hilly; elevation varies from 1500 to 2000 m. The dominant soil type is Nitosol, mostly reddish brown and black, the texture being mainly clay. The survey area is connected to other areas by two all-weather roads. However, the feeder roads are accessible to the main roads only during dry seasons. Farmers are organized into PAs, each covering an area of approximately 800 ha. Service cooperatives (SCs) are organized to render services (distribution of farm inputs like fertilizer, seeds, and chemicals) to their members. Most of the big markets are located in the towns along the main road running from Addis Abeba to Nekemte. Farmers sell their produce and buy goods from these markets. As the study area is in a surplus-producing zone, the extension method followed was a modified T and V (training and visit) system. Maize is grown mainly for food, while tef, noug, and pepper are grown predominantly for cash. Maize and tef are made into injera, the main dish in the area. Maize is also eaten in the form of porridge, kolo (roasted), and nifro (boiled) or it is used to make a local drink, tela. Cattle are the most important class of livestock, providing draft power and manure for crop production. The average family size is 7.9 members. On average three people work on the farm permanently and 0.63 people are engaged in off-farm employment. The average farm size is 2.44 ha; land under cultivation is about 1.77 ha, maize accounting for about 58%. On average, the farmers own 1.27 oxen, less than one bull, and less than one cow; about 60% of the farmers own one ox or less. The major method o f land preparation is with the local plow, the maresha, pulled by a pair of oxen. This study examined the level of adoption of the maize recommended package comprising variety, fertilizer, and row planting. Among surveyed farmers, 67% had adopted maize variety, 64% row planting, and 60% fertilizer. However, in 1989 the adoption rates were 54% for variety, 54% for row planting and 34% for fertilizer. The adoption pattern of the farmers in the survey area, as elsewhere, displays a pattern of careful stepwise testing of the components of the recommended package. For instance, among 42 farmers, 33 (79%) adopted the package in a stepwise manner, and only 9 (21%) simultaneously. However, almost none of them followed the recommendations perfectly, especially in the case of fertilizer type x rate and planting distance. The study investigated some of the factors influencing the adoption of the recommended technologies. The majority of the farmers who adopted an improved maize variety purchased seed only once, because they used their own seed from the previous harvest, but they mentioned seed unavailability as a major problem. Cash shortage and late delivery of fertilizer were indicated as main constraints to fertilizer use. The improved maize varieties in the package still need some improvement. For instance, farmers rated them low, particularly in storage quality, compared to the local varieties. Many farmers also rated the improved varieties the same as the local varieties for such qualities as lodging and germination. Thus breeders will need to improve on these varieties and offer varieties of new lines from which farmers can select to meet their needs best. Policy makers will need to pay special attention to the provision of the right incentive infrastructure that will not only offer farmers the right prices but also include an efficient credit system, extension service, and transportation system. These measures will enhance the adoption rates of the recommended maize packages.