Thesis

Production and Marketing of Milk and Milk Products: The Case of North Mecha District, North Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Production and Marketing of Milk and Milk Products: The Case of North Mecha District, North Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Degarege, Temesgen Smallholder dairy farmers in in Ethiopia including North Mecha District continue to encounter complicated socio-cultural and religious challenges related to milk production and milk marketing, as well as exposure to price volatility that significantly impacts the dairy sector. Thus, the objective of the study was to analyze value chain of cow milk and milk products at smallholder milk producers at North Mecha District, North Gojjam zone, Ethiopia. Data were collected using multistage sampling techniques. Sample size was determined using standard method and a total of 186 primary producers were interviewed in data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and econometric analysis. Preference ranking and cow milk production constraints were ranked by calculating index values. The result showed that farmers preferred cross-breed (70.97%) than indigenous (29.03%) breeding types for milking cows due to production of high quantity of milk from cross breed (Mean = 7.30 ± 3.34 lit/cow/day) than local breed type (Mean =1.88 ± 0.99 lit/cow/day). The primary producers sold fresh milk and milk products for the largest proportion for retailers (60%) and consumers (30%). Out of 186 respondents, 40.86% sold fresh milk, 48.39% sold butter, 18.28% sold fresh cottage cheese and 2% sold yogurt. Under the Heckman two stage model (probit model) indicated that farm land size, education level, age of the household head, distance to the market, membership in cooperatives, access to improved forage, and access to veterinary services are significantly determining households participation in to milk marketing up to <10% levels of significance. The OLS result also indicated that farm land size, livestock size, distance to the market, membership in cooperatives, access to improved forage, and access to veterinary services are significantly determining amount of milk supply to the market up to <10% levels of significance. On the basis of the findings of the study, it can be stated that there is a substantial opportunity to raise the cow milk productivity and marketing value chain the study area. Therefore, it is recommended that government agricultural office, NGOs and Livestock research centers and local administrative should provide supplementary fodder resources and critical follow up of veterinary services in the area

Determinants of the Adoption and its intensity of Improved Faba Bean Production Technology Packages: the Case of Moretina Jiru and Bassona Werana Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Determinants of the Adoption and its intensity of Improved Faba Bean Production Technology Packages: the Case of Moretina Jiru and Bassona Werana Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Ayele, Teklemariam Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is among the most important pulse crops in the highlands and midhighlands of Ethiopia. The productivity of faba beans is low due to the low adoption of faba beanproduction technology packages and biotic and abiotic factors. However, the adoption and dissemination of improved faba bean production packages is constrained by various factors. Thestudy was conducted to identify the determinants of the adoption and intensity of adoption ofimproved faba bean production technology packages in Moretina Jiru and Bassona Werana Woredas. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select representative kebeles andhouseholds. The study used primary data collected from 262 randomly selected faba beanproducer households and focus group discussions were conducted with the selected faba beanproducer farmers. The secondary data was collected from literature reviews, the North ShewZone agricultural office, and each selected kebele. Descriptive, inferential, logit and two-limitTobit econometric models were used to analyze the collected data. The descriptive result showethat the mean adoption index of improved faba bean production technology packages and improved faba bean varieties were 77% and 25%, respectively. The logit model result revealedthat formal education, family labor availability, distance from farmers training center, cost of faba bean seed, field day program participation, membership in cooperatives, and informationsource of improved faba bean seed positively and significantly affected the adoption decision ofimproved faba bean production technology packages, while distance from the Kebele agriculture office, distance from all-weather roads, and sex negatively affected it. The two-limit Tobit modedata analysis result revealed that formal education, the cost of faba bean seed, field dayprogram participation, membership in cooperatives, and information sources of improved faba bean seed positively and significantly affect the adoption intensity of improved faba bean production technology packages, while the distance from all-weather roads negatively affects itTherefore, government and development interventions should emphasize strengthening formaleducation, infrastructural development, membership in agricultural cooperatives, field dayparticipation, information access for new technologies, and women's household participation tincrease the adoption level of improved faba bean production technology packages and theirproductivity.

Income Effects of Farmers’ Participation in Maize Seed Multiplication: Evidence From Dera Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia

2026-02-01T00:00:00Z

Income Effects of Farmers’ Participation in Maize Seed Multiplication: Evidence From Dera Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia Oumer, Jemal Community-based seed production systems are one of the mechanisms implemented by the government of Ethiopia to solve farmers' seed supply problems and improve their livelihood. In the study area, maize seed multiplication has been established for the past few years. However, there is a lack of literatures that investigate the major constraints and the impact of maize seed multiplication on households’ income. Therefore, this study was undertaken to identify factors determining households’ maize seed multiplication participation decisions and estimate the impact of maize seed multiplication participation on farmers’ income. The study data were collected from 230 randomly selected respondents from two rural kebeles using household survey, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), and Key Informant Interviews (KII). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and probit and Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model. The descriptive statistics result shows that about 54% of sample households have adopted maize seed multiplication. The probit model result showed that households’ maize seed multiplication participation decisions were influenced by several demographic socio-economic and institutional factors. Sex of the household head, size of farm land, livestock holding, active labor force, off/nonfarm participation, credit utilization and training were found to have a statistically significant effect on the respondents’ participation decision. Regarding the impact of maize seed multiplication on farmers’ income, the study employed the ESR model and identified a significant positive contribution of this technology on farmers’ income. Its counterfactual analysis also indicates that if the participant had not adopted, their income would have been reduced from 50438 Ethiopian birr (ETB) to 37607 ETB, while the income of non-participants would have been increased from 15375 ETB to 20603 ETB if they adopted the maize seed multiplication. In addition to this, the FGD and KII identified that lack of timely input distribution, lack of good infrastructure, disease and pests, and the surrounding communities’ normal maize cultivation are among the main challenges hindering maize seed multiplication in the study area. The findings suggest that promoting maize seed multiplication requires integrated policy interventions that address gender disparities, labor constraints, land scarcity, and financial limitations. Targeted empowerment of female-headed households, promotion of labor-saving mechanization, and productivity-enhancing technologies are crucial to broaden participation. Strengthening access to credit, expanding off- and non-farm income opportunities, and reinforcing cooperative-based contract farming can further ease financial constraints and stabilize farm incomes. In addition, improved livestock management practices and strengthened extension and training services are essential to ensure sustainable participation in maize seed multiplication.

Determinants of Livelihood Diversification Strategies Among Rural Households in Case of Farta District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Determinants of Livelihood Diversification Strategies Among Rural Households in Case of Farta District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Molla, Debritu In developing nations, farming is primarily subsistence, rain-dependent economy of the rural households not mechanized, and uninsured, making it subject to high crop losses caused by environmental and human factors. As a result, diversifying smallholder farmers’ livelihood strategies helps them achieve financial stability, combat poverty, provide job opportunities, food security and cope with environmental and socioeconomic shocks. This study was conducted to assess livelihood diversification strategies and identify the factors that affect households’ decisions to diversify their livelihood strategies in Farta Woreda South Gonder Zone of Ethiopia. A multi-stage stratified random sampling technique was used to select 334 rural household heads as a sample in study areas. The study employed primary data collected from sampled rural household heads through interview schedules, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. In addition, secondary data were sourced from office reports and other published and unpublished materials.the data analysis method includes descriptive statistics and multinomial logit model. The survey results indicate that 29.34% of the respondents choose farm only, 42.81% on-farm plus off-farm, 17.37% on-farm plus non-farm and the remaining 10.48% of the respondents choose farm plus off-farm plus non-farm strategy. Multinomial logit model was employed to identify the factors influencing the rural household heads’ decision to choose livelihood strategies. The model result showed that credit, annual income and education positively impact on livelihood diversification where as age, farm size, distance from market center and agricultural input supply on time negatively on livelihood diversification. This implies that as household heads grow older, they tend to lack the physical strength and financial capital required to engage in on‑farm and off‑farm activities. The difficulty of transporting produce to markets exacerbated by long distances and poor road conditions-discourages participation in both agricultural and non‑farm activities. Greater landholdings encourage specialization in farming, while smaller landholdings push households to diversify into alternative livelihood strategies. Timely access to agricultural inputs was limited or heavily tied to on‑farm activities, may encourage specialization rather than diversification. Therefore, the study recommends promotion of rural households’ livelihood diversification strategies to build more profitable and sustainable livelihood strategies.