Determinants of Small Holder Farmers Bio Fertilizer Technology Adoption for Faba Bean Production in Tiyo Wereda, East Arsi Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Bio-fertilizer is an eco-friendly and cost effective source ofnitrogen for crop production.However, its use in Ethiopian agriculture is very low in general and in TiyoWereda in particular. Thus, the main objective of this study was to assess the major determinant factors affecting smallholder farmers’ adoption of bio-fertilizer forfaba bean production in TiyoWereda.The study applied stratified and random sampling techniques. A total of 120 sample respondents were used for primary data and secondary data collection. Out of these 120 respondents,72 were adopters while the rest 48 were non adopters. The data collected were subjectedto logistic regression model analyses in orderto find out the major factors that have contributed for adoption of bio-fertilizer.The econometric analysis result showed that, out of nine explanatory variables, four were found to have significant correlation with adoption of bio-fertilizer by smallholder farmers. From the total of four significantly independent variables, two of the continuous and two from dummy variables were found to be influencing adoption of bio fertilizer by small holder farmers in the study area. The other variables which were found to be significantly influencing the adoption of bio fertilizer for faba bean production were access to credit (ACFAC), education level ofhousehold head (ELHH), distance from household residence to all weather road (DMAINR), and access to information (AINFO;) while the remaining five explanatory variables: frequency of extension service, investment cost, family size, farm size and sex of house hold head were found to be less powerful in explaining variation in adoption of bio-fertilizer by smallholder farmer in the study area. From this study it can be recommended that access to credit, access to information about bio fertilizer and extension service should get due attention so that farmers can adopt the use of this cost effective and environmentally friendly nitrogen sourcewhich can replace the chemical fertilizer currently used for faba bean production.