Abstract:
he farming sub-sector of Ethiopia is characterized by traditional rain fed and low
techniques of production an~ thus, is prone to the recurrent natural calamity of drought,
which leaves famine and death in its wake. Today, farmers in Ethiopia have difficulties in
feeding their households on their increasingly fragmented land and using traditional and
backward techniques of production. Hence there is a need to improve agricultural
productivity and production through the adoption and adaptation of improved
agricultural technologies. In modernizing agriculture, a strong support system is
inevitable involving input supplies and other services like marketing, transport, storage,
and processing services.
This study is intended to examine the contribution of agricultural extension service in
enhancing crop production· in the case of Burie woreda of the Amhara Regional State.
Two stages of sampling techniques were used in which random sampling procedures
were followed to select three rural kebeles and 120 respondents. Structured interview
schedule and questionnaires were used for collecting the essential quantitative and
qualitative data from the sampled respondents. To generate qualitative data, field
observations,· informal interview with key informants,· and discussions with separate
focus groups were conducted The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive
statistical tools such as chi-square test, and Multiple Linear Regressions model. The
.. ,
major output of the study indicates that the agricultural extension services have a great
role to increase crop productions when i~~dopf~roperly and the system is highly
characterized by relatively poor linkage and inefficient knowledge flow between actors
and farmers in the study area. Moreover, use of inputs was significantly influenced by
cost of inputs, accessibility, consultation service of agricultural workers and financial
institutions to facilitate possession of the resources.
Therefore, it is recommended that, the existing extension service should be strengthened
lf1-..£L.-14L[.,~w:ttH-'Wt.1~11~ in harmony with relevant actors to bring about changes for
efficient and effective adoption of agricultural extension services. Likewise, policy should
account the flexibility of rules on credit provision and organization of small farmers
groups in addressing resource poor farmers to ensure food self sufficiency of rural
community in particular and the nation at large.
