Thesis

Impacts of Small-Scale Irrigation Participation on Agro-Pastoralist Household Food Security in the Case of gewane District, Afar Region, Ethiopia

2026-09-18T06:12:21Z

Impacts of Small-Scale Irrigation Participation on Agro-Pastoralist Household Food Security in the Case of gewane District, Afar Region, Ethiopia Molla, Adino Chronic food insecurity remains a critical challenge among agro-pastoral households in the Afar region of Ethiopia, primarily due to recurrent droughts, climate variability, and dependence on rain-fed agricultural systems. Although the Gewane district possesses substantial irrigation potential, its utilization remains below capacity, and empirical evidence on the relationship between small-scale irrigation participation and household food security in this specific context is limited. This study, therefore, aimed to analyze the impacts of small-scale irrigation participation on agro-pastoral households' food security, identify factors influencing participation in irrigation farming, examine determinants of irrigation participation intensity, and evaluate the impact of irrigation on food security outcomes. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 356 households, 186 irrigation users and 170 non-users from three kebeles in the Gewane district, Afar region, Ethiopia. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, a Double-Hurdle model, and Propensity Score Matching with a kernel matching bandwidth of 0.1 were applied to estimate average treatment effects. Food security was measured using daily calorie intake per adult equivalent against the national threshold of 2100 kcal, and data analysis was conducted using STATA version 16. The probit model results indicated that sex of the household head, livestock ownership, education, farm size, farming experience, distance to irrigation water source, and off-farm income significantly influenced irrigation participation at (p<0.01) and (p<0.05) significance levels, respectively. The truncated regression revealed that farm size, extension contacts, education, dependency ratio, livestock holding, and distance to irrigation significantly affected the intensity of participation at (p<0.01) and (p<0.05) significance levels, respectively. Propensity Score Matching estimates showed that irrigation participation increased daily per capita calorie intake by 803.05 kcal (ATT = 803.05, t = 10.06) relative to nonparticipants. Furthermore, net grain availability for irrigation user households was 2727.16 kcal, more than double that of non-users (1290.33 kcal). It is concluded that small-scale irrigation participation significantly enhances household food security among agro-pastoral households in the study area. Strengthening extension services, improving access to credit, and training households on irrigation interventions are recommended.

Adoption of Combine Harvester Custom Hiring and Its Impact on Crop Productivity and Farm Income: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Northwestern Ethiopia.

2026-08-17T07:20:15Z

Adoption of Combine Harvester Custom Hiring and Its Impact on Crop Productivity and Farm Income: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Northwestern Ethiopia. Gete, Tewodros Small holder farmers in Ethiopia can’t increase their productivity and income due to lack of agricultural mechanization, even though agricultural mechanization has crucial socioeconomic benefits. The traditional method of harvesting makes it difficult to perform various farm operations in a timely manner, resulting in worsening loss of crops on farms during harvesting and threshing. The adoption and impact of agricultural mechanization on smallholder farmers' crop productivity and income have not been adequately studied. The major objective of this study was to assess the impact of combine harvester custom hiring on households' crop productivity and farm income. As well, the study examined the smallholder farmer's decision to hire a combine harvester and its financial profitability. Multi-stage sampling was used to gather data from 450 households in seven sample kebeles from Gozamin, Baso Liben, and Debre Elias districts in northwestern Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, binary logit model, truncated Poisson model, and an endogenous switching regression (ESR) model were used to analyze the data. The logistic result shows that the educational status of the household head, immediate access of the combiner, average field distance to the main road, fear of unseasonal rain, extension contact, and mobile phone possession had a significant positive effect on the hiring decision of combine harvester. On the other hand, the male household head and the active family labor force impacted the hiring decision of a mechanical harvester negatively. In the truncated regression, active family labor force, oxen, immediate access, type of combiner leaser, and straw waste suspicion were significant determinants of the intensity of custom hiring on the farmer's wheat plots. According to the ESR model results, adopters' crop productivity and farm income increased by 5.60 quintals per hectare and 12764.34 birrs as a result of hiring combine harvesters. Non-adopters would also gain 6.10 quintals per hectare and 8051.82 birrs if they had been hired. The hiring of combine harvester technology has an indispensable contribution to the improvement of smallholder productivity and income and it is financially profitable. The government, private stakeholders, and other concerned parties should facilitate the custom hiring of existing machinery; besides importing or manufacturing agricultural machinery that is well suited to the Ethiopian agricultural system perspective so as to separate farmers from oxen and change traditional agriculture practices.

Adoption of Apple Production and its Impact on Households' Income in Banja District, awi Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

2026-07-08T12:00:55Z

Adoption of Apple Production and its Impact on Households' Income in Banja District, awi Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Wubayehu Fekad Apple-based agroforestry plays a vital role in enhancing farmers' socioeconomic well-being. This study investigates the adoption of apple-production and assesses impact on household income in Banja district, using data from 341 households selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Primary data were collected through household surveys and interviews, supplemented by secondary sources. Descriptive statistics were used for preliminary analysis, while binary probit and endogenous switching regression (ESR) models were employed to examine adoption drivers and estimate income impacts, respectively. Results indicate that 49% of sampled households adopted apple- production. Household size, frequency of extension contact, apple production training, farming experience, seedling access and cost, landholding size, and access to market pricing information are all important elements in promoting applebased agroforestry adoption. In contrast, older age of the household head and pest or disease prevalence had a negative impact on adoption. Adopters of apple production earned 42,283 ETB, while non-adopters would have experienced a 12,074 ETB decrease in income if they had adopted the practice. According to the findings suggest that policymakers, extension agents, and local agricultural offices should promote adoption through targeted capacity building and sustained extension support.

Lime Technology Adoption and its Determinants: the Case of Debre Elias District, East Gojjam, Amhara, Ethiopia

2026-07-08T11:44:30Z

Lime Technology Adoption and its Determinants: the Case of Debre Elias District, East Gojjam, Amhara, Ethiopia Tirngo Solomon Adamu Agriculture is the pillar of Ethiopia’s economy. However, it is constrained by soil acidity. Soil acidity is one of the problems that have resulted in low productivity in the country. Researchers and development practitioners tried to alleviate soil acidity and increase agricultural production. The adoption lime technology remains to be a promising strategy to reduce soil acidity, achieve food security and reduce poverty in Ethiopia. Despite the efforts to promote adoption in the country, the adoption rate has always been very low. So, it is essential to understand the determinants to the adoption of lime technologies. Thus, the primary goal of this study, which was carried out in the Debre Elias district, was to identify the basic factors influencing farmers' adoption and intensity of lime technology. Data was collected from 366 households using a multi-stage sampling technique from three sample kebeles in Debre Elias district. For the study, both primary and secondary data were employed. Descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, and standard deviation and inferential statistics such as independent t-tests and chi-square tests were used. Double hurdle model was also used to analyze the determinants of lime adoption intensity in the study. The result of the study in the probit model shows that farm size, training, land ownership, and extension service significantly and positively affected lime adoption participation. Whereas, distance to input market are significantly and negatively affected lime adoption participation. The truncated model result shows that the age of the household head and livestock holding significantly and positively affected lime adoption intensity. Farm size, extension service, and household size are significantly and negatively affected lime adoption intensity. Soil acidity treatment technologies adoption improvement requires training for households, increasing expert support, sharing experiences between adopters and non-adopters, and maximizing the adoption rate of lime by solving problems were some important ideas.