3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................... 18
3.1 Descriptions of the Study Areas ................................................................................ 18
3.1.1. Location .................................................................................................................... 18
3.1.2. Climate and Soil condition ....................................................................................... 19
3.1.3. Population of the study area ...................................................................................... 19
3.1.4. Farming System ........................................................................................................ 20
3.1.5. Crop production patterns .......................................................................................... 20
3.2 Sampling procedure ...................................................................................................... 21
3.2.1 Methods of Data Collection .......................................................................................... 22
3.2.2 Methods of Data Analysis ............................................................................................. 23
3.2.2.1 Descriptive statistics ................................................................................................. 23
3.2.2.2 The Tobit model ........................................................................................................ 23
3.2.2.3 The Double-hurdle model ......................................................................................... 25
3.2.3 Definition of variables and working hypotheses .......................................................... 27
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ......................................................................................... 33
4.1 Descriptive Statistics ................................................................................................... 33
4.1.2 Sex of household head .............................................................................................. 35
4.1.3 Educational levels of the household heads ............................................................... 36
4.1.4 Participation in off/ non-farm activities .................................................................... 36
4.1.5 Soil fertility status ..................................................................................................... 38
4.1.6 Extension services ..................................................................................................... 38
4.1.7 Field day participation .............................................................................................. 40
4.1.8 Credit Access ............................................................................................................ 40
4.1.9 Access to Media (Radio, Television and phone) ...................................................... 41
4.1.10 Household size .......................................................................................................... 43
4.1.11 Age of the household head ........................................................................................ 43
4.1.12 Livestock ownership ................................................................................................. 44
4.1.13 Oxen ownership ........................................................................................................ 45
4.1.14 Land holdings ........................................................................................................... 45
4.1.15 Farm income ............................................................................................................. 46
4.1.16 Market distance ......................................................................................................... 47
4.1.17 Major marketing constraints in wheat crop .............................................................. 47
4.1.18 Levels of wheat crop commercialization .................................................................. 48
4.2 Econometric Results ................................................................................................... 50
4.2.1 Model specification ................................................................................................... 51
4.2.2 Results and Discussion .............................................................................................. 52
4.2.3 Determinants of improved wheat varieties adoption ........................................... 54
4.2.3.1 Sex of the household head ........................................................................................ 56
4.2.3.2 Participation in field day ........................................................................................... 56
4.2.3.3 Access to all weather roads ....................................................................................... 56
4.2.3.4 District ...................................................................................................................... 57
4.2.4 Determinants of intensity of use improved wheat varieties ................................ 57
4.2.4.1 Sex of the household head ........................................................................................ 57
4.2.4.2 Credit access ............................................................................................................. 58
4.2.4.3 Access to all weather roads ....................................................................................... 58
4.2.4.4 District ...................................................................................................................... 58
4.2.4.5 Active family force ................................................................................................... 59
4.2.4.6 Market distance ......................................................................................................... 59
5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................... 60
5..1 SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 60
5..2 CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................... 61
5..3 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................... 63
6 REFERENCES: .................................................................................................................. 65
7 APPENDICES ..................................................................................................................... 74
Questionnaire
8 BIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................... 104