Abstract

Objectives: The study is to identify the key factors that affect farmers’ improved potato variety adaptation and its extent in Dabat Woreda, North Gondar Zone.

Methods: The study used both primary and secondary data. The primary data was gathered from 150 potato producing households selected by using simple random sampling technique in the three purposively selected potential kebeles. To analyze the data, both descriptive statistics and econometrics models were employed. Binary logistic and Tobit regression models were applied to analyze factors that affect potato new variety adoption and its extent respectively.

Main findings: The results of binary logistic regression model showsthatadoption status of potato new variety was affected by access to rural credit, education level, and cattle size (TLU) positively and significantly.However, distance of the nearest market center and farmers’ perception towards potato production had a negative effect on it. The results of Tobit modelalsoshowed that extent of potato technology adoption status was affected by Development agent visit frequency; member of Farmers’ cooperative and hired labours positively. While level of education has a negative effect on it. In this study, level of education has better role to adopt potato technology. However this variable has not progressive effect on the extent of adoption of the potato technology in the study area because of diminishing of marginal productivity on the potato production, as potato output is rising, and consequently the relatively educated farmers shifts their need to other better income generating alternatives like producing cash crops.

Recommendation: The study recommends strong attention should be provided in building infrastructural facilities that enhance potato technology adoption and its extent through improving farmers’ awareness by training and experience.

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