Agricultural Extension, Adoption and Diffusion in Ethiopia

Abstract

Technology adoption is a dynamic aspect of an innovation process of dissemination and diffusion of knowledge and hardware component of a technology. For efficient impact to be registered on farm households, it requires synergy between policy, technical and institutional innovations. Since 1995, Ethiopia has been undertaking a home grown development strategy known as, Agricultural Development Led Industrialization [ ADLI]. One of the main facets of this strategy in the agricultural sector has been the generation, adoption and diffusion of new farm technologies in the form of new and improved inputs and practices. In the mobilization of small farmers and the dissemination of better farming practices, the agricultural development strategy has been operationalized through Participatory Demonstration & Extension Training System [PADETS]. , Ensuing enhanced farm output and productivity via increased yield, cropped area, quality improvement and diversification aim at raising the level of living of the rural population, the development of a home market for industry, raising the technical base of agriculture, generating foreign exchange and improved sustainability are the main objectives of the study. 1A Although PADETS have been in operation for about 6 years, there has not been a comprehensive national level evaluation of the programme. The cursory monitoring reports are too general and rarely quantified from a scientifically designed and processed data base. Evaluation is essential to assess the outcome of the programme in terms of its stated objectives, identifying its strong institutional and dissemination strategies to reinforce and replicate them as the programme expands into new areas and broaden its scope and depth in the existing ones. Towards this end, the Ethiopian Development Research Institute undertook research on Agricultural Extension, Adoption, Diffusion and Impact Assessment in the four regions vis. Tigrai, Amara, Oromia and the South in 2001-2002.