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Degraded land is a major danger to agricultural productivity and food security in Ethiopia. Sustainable land management technologies (SLMTs), through targeted interventions, have been applied to address this problem. Notwithstanding some of the known agricultural and environmental benefits connected with the adoption of some SLMTs, the adoption rate remains below expectations. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the relationships and determinants of the adoption of SLMTs in eastern and southern Ethiopia. Data were collected from 384 sampled households selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics and multivariate probit (MVP) model were used to analyze data. Estimated results of MVP revealed that the adoption of SLMTs is positively and significantly influenced by education level, livestock, membership in a social group, extension contacts, access to SLM information, training, credit, land tenure, and slope, while age, farm distance, and the number of active family members due to youth migration abroad had negative effects. The widely adopted SLMTs on farmlands were inorganic fertilizer (49.5%), soil bunds (48.4%), bench terraces (47.2%), intercropping (46.1%), and manure (38%). This study concluded that farmers invested a blend of SLMTs, some of which complemented and others substituted for one another. Therefore, policy-makers and planners should focus on fortifying human and local institutions' capacity to implement SLM and consider SLM technology interdependencies before communicating with farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As in most developing countries, farm households in Ethiopia are often engaged in several income diversification activities to mitigate several risks and uncertainties faced by agriculture and address poverty and food insecurity. The benefits of income diversification have been widely documented in the literature. However, little econometric evidence exists on the drivers of income diversification among farm households in Ethiopia. The paper addresses this information gap by investigating the drivers of choice decisions and intensity of income diversification among farm households using data collected from a sample of 385 randomly selected households from the Ethiopian central highlands. Unlike previous studies, our multivariate probit model results show that the choice decision of farm households is significantly interrelated and drivers had heterogeneous effects on the choice decision of households. The findings revealed that age, education, livestock, land, food shortage, agricultural commercialization cluster (ACC), investment in sustainable farming practices, rainfall, and maximum temperature significantly impacted the choice of income diversification. The fractional response logit model results revealed that age, livestock, food shortage, joint household decision‐making, ACC, income, rainfall, and study site significantly impacted the intensity of income diversification. The descriptive results revealed that most farmers (67%) tend to have a more diversified portfolio of income including off‐farm, forest, non‐farm, livestock, crop, and other sources, and the intensity of diversification ranges between 0 and 0.76. The study also finds the presence of both synergies and trade‐offs in different types of diversification. We suggest that there is an urgent need to improve the ways of income diversification among farm households to both the sustainability of small farms and ensure food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores to identify various climate change adaptation strategies adopted by farm households in the Gedeo zone, Ethiopia. It is based on cross-sectional data from 400 randomly selected sample farm households. By using cross-sectional data from a primary survey of 400 randomly selected sample farm households and applying a multivariate probit regression model, it identifies the factors determining farm households' adoption of climate change adaptation options. The study finds five major climate change adaptation options adopted by farm households, viz. agro-forestry, soil and water conservation, small-scale irrigation, crop diversification, and adjusting planting dates. Findings indicate that various demographics, socio-economic, institutional, biophysical and climate change risk factors determine adoption of climate change adaptation strategies. The study suggests the significance of formulating different information opportunities such as local climate forums, access to media centers, and training centers for farmers, which can help to increase adaptation of farm households to climate change. Therefore, policies and development plans that persuade the adoption of adaptation strategies to climate change must consider these factors to reduce the climate repercussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, many initiatives have been implemented to empower smallholder dairy farmers to develop viable livelihoods from the sector. The problem with these policies is the inability to reach farmers at large, and dairy farmers in rural areas are always challenged to deliver milk and milk products faster to the final market. The study was aimed at investigating factors that influence market channel choices among dairy producers in Ada'a Berga district Ethiopia. This paper uses data from a survey of 123 dairy producer households in four rural kebeles to analyse the factors that influence the choice of a milk marketing channel. Multivariate probit econometric model results show that income from dairy source, market information and educational level of household affected wholesaler outlet. The choice of consumer outlet is influenced by family size, membership in a dairy cooperative, market information, non-dairy income and income from dairy source. Number of milking cows, membership in a dairy cooperative and non-dairy income determined the choice of dairy cooperative outlet. The choice of district retailer's market outlet was affected by sex of households, membership in a dairy cooperative and income from dairy sources. Choice of rural collector outlet is negatively influenced by non-dairy income and access to an extension contact. Therefore, policies should be designed that encourage farmers' cooperatives, contract farming and collective action in order to lower transaction costs, expand market information for dairy producers, expand extension services and expand infrastructures such as road and transportation facilities, which are needed to promote the effective marketing of milk through all outlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock, particularly cattle, are an integral part of livelihoods in rural sub-Saharan Africa. However, diseases such as African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) have limited the potential of this important sector in the rural household economy. Using a representative sample of small-scale cattle farmers, this study investigates the adoption of modern AAT-management technologies in rural Ethiopia. Specifically, this study investigates the adoption of so-called 'best-bet technologies' (BBTs), recommended by veterinary experts as complementary measures to manage AAT. The results show that the multiple adoption of BBTs was low. In addition, BBTs were adopted as substitutes, and not as complements as suggested by veterinary experts. The results suggest budgetary constraints are proxied by wealth, and information asymmetry explains the substitution effects. The training and reeducation of veterinary personnel, as well as programmes and interventions that would improve access to livestock-management inputs, should be pursued vigorously by policy makers to increase the adoption of modern AAT-management technologies to improve cattle productiviy.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Ethiopia, the land allocated for urban expansion is taken from farming communities residing in the peripheries of towns and cities. Therefore, this decision strongly affects the livelihood of local communities living at peri-urban areas. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the livelihood strategy choices in peri-urban communities of Hossana town, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia and factors affecting them. Materials and Methods: A household survey research design was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire by interviewing 369 households. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources. In addition to household interview, focus group discussion, key informant interview, transect walk and personal observation were used as data collection tools. The study employed multivariate probit model to identify factors affecting choice of livelihood strategies in peri-urban local communities. Results: Model results showed that dependency ratio, active labor force in the family, sex of household head, educational levels of household heads, annual total income, market distance, household asset ownership, mass media exposure, achievement motivation, information seeking behavior, distance to public transport, total cultivated land, livestock (other than ox) and extension contact significantly affected choice of livelihood strategies. Conclusion: From the results we can conclude that agriculture, cottage/small scale industries, service, migration and other livelihood strategies are used as sources of income in peri-urban communities of Hossana town and are affected by different socio-economic, demographic, institutional, information and psychological factors. Therefore, it is necessary to give attention to those factors which positively affect agriculture, cottage/small scale industries and service and negatively affect migration and other livelihood strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has adversely affected the livelihoods of people in Ethiopia since a large proportion of the population is heavily dependent on agriculture as their adaptive capacities are perceived to be below. Therefore, this study aimed to identify determinants of farmer adaptation strategies with their costs and benefits of each adaptation strategy. The data were collected from 155 farm households using a random sampling method through semistructured questionnaires. The result of the multivariate probit model revealed that the likelihood of farmers to adopt adjustment of planting date, changing crop varieties, intercropping, crop rotation, irrigation, and minimum tillage were 51.6%, 61.9%, 56.1%, 38.1%, 10.3%, and 27.1%, respectively. The joint likelihood of using all adaptation strategies was 4.2%, while their failure to adopt all the adaptation strategies was 9.8%. Among the given adaptation options, intercropping, adjusting planting dates, crop rotation, and changing crop varieties are economically viable climate adaptation strategies. Regarding the intensity of adaptation, 78% of sampled respondents were used more than one adaptation option, and their NPV and BCR were higher when they used at least one adaptation option. Farmers who did not adopt any adaptation options were able to receive the lowest income per unit production. The study recommends that households should use multiple combinations of adaptation practices rather than the use of a single adaptation option. Thus, the government and stakeholders must provide educational and extension service, training, and updated climate information to smallholder crop producers to use and select the best and combination of adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretically, the relationship between shocks and agricultural innovation adoption could be ambiguous. While shocks could lower the competence and capacity of households to adopt new agricultural innovations, households can also take-up agricultural innovations as a coping mechanism against the different shocks they face. Using a nationally representative household data from Ethiopia of the Living Standards Measurement Study-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) of the World Bank, this paper analyzes the effect of idiosyncratic and covariate shocks on adoption of different agricultural innovations, assuming interdependence among the innovations. We find shocks to have heterogeneous effects on the adoption of agricultural innovations. Specifically, production and health shocks have negative effects on the adoption of high-cost innovations such as improved seeds, chemical fertilizer, and irrigation. However, production shocks are positively associated with low-cost innovations such as organic fertilizer. To enhance farmers’ adoption of agricultural innovations, especially high-cost innovations, there is a greater need towards the design of policies and interventions that would reduce household’s exposure to production and health shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the impact of land certification and risk preferences on the adoption of different soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies using survey data at plot and household level from Ethiopia. Both long-term and short-term investments are considered. Using multivariate probit and correlated random-effect Poisson regression models, we find a heterogeneous impact of land certification on the adoption of SWC techniques among farmers with different risk profiles. We find that certification enhances land investment and that the effect is stronger for more risk-averse farmers. Land certification has a positive effect on the adoption of SWC techniques with a longer payback period such as biological and physical practices, but only for high risk-averse farmers. For short-term investments in SWC techniques like agronomic practices, which are used less to claim the land but with considerable productivity effects, the land certification has a positive effect for both low and high risk-averse farmers, but more strongly for the latter. Hence, our findings suggest that land certification programs could have an important contribution to breaking the risk-induced low technology uptake - agricultural development trap by motivating (particularly risk-averse) farmers to enhance their land investments. • Heterogeneous effects of land titling on adoption of soil and water conservation technology. • Impact of titling varies with farmers' risk profiles. • Among low risk-averse farmers, titling only increases adoption of agronomic conservation practices. • Positive correlation between land titling and technology adoption among high risk-averse farmers. • Adoption of soil and water conservation techniques is complementary and interdependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption and diffusion of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) has become an important issue in the development-policy agenda for sub-Saharan Africa, especially as a way to tackle land degradation, low agricultural productivity and poverty. However, the adoption rates of SAPs remain below expected levels. This study analyses the factors that facilitate or impede the probability and level of adoption of interrelated SAPs, using recent data from multiple plot-level observations in rural Ethiopia. Multivariate and ordered probit models are applied to the modelling of adoption decisions by farm households facing multiple SAPs, which can be adopted in various combinations. The results show that there is a significant correlation between SAPs, suggesting that adoptions of SAPs are interrelated. The analysis further shows that both the probability and the extent of adoption of SAPs are influenced by many factors: a household's trust in government support, credit constraints, spouse education, rainfall and plot-level disturbances, household wealth, social capital and networks, labour availability, plot and market access. These results imply that policy-makers and development practitioners should seek to strengthen local institutions and service providers, maintain or increase household asset bases and establish and strengthen social protection schemes in order to improve the adoption of SAPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, teff is an important cereal crop, particularly in Dera district. It is a source of food and provides cash income for majority of smallholder farmers. To commercialize teff producers, selecting an appropriate market channel is mandatory. However, selecting an appropriate market channel is not an easy task because there are different factors that influence market outlet choices. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors that influence teff market outlet choices. A two-stage random sampling procedure was used and a total of 154 smallholder farmers were randomly and proportionally selected to collect primary data. Multivariate probit model was employed to identify factors affecting teff market outlet choices. The result of the study shows that the probability of teff producers to choose wholesaler, retailer, consumer and cooperative market outlets was 31.82%, 35.71%, 37.01% and 16.88%, respectively. This shows that consumer was the most likely chosen market outlet while cooperative was the less likely chosen market outlet. The joint probability of farmers to choose the four market outlets is (0.1%) lower than the likely of no choosing four market outlets (19.5%). The result of multivariate probit model revealed that age of household head, land size, quantity of teff produced, lagged price of teff, family size (AE), membership of cooperatives and distance to the nearest market were found to be statistically and significantly affecting the market outlet choice behavior of teff producers. This implies that improving the production capacity of farmers and invests on rural cooperatives would help smallholder farmers to choose the rewarding market outlet. Therefore, the study suggested that improving the existing production system, farmers relying on intensive cultivation; giving better price for farmers and being membership of cooperative are important strategies to select the appropriate market channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]