Regasa et al Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 9(2), pp. 229-241, 2019 ISSN: 2276-7770 Copyright ©2019, the copyright of this article is retained by the author(s) DOI Link: http://doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2019.2.041719071 http://gjournals.org/GJAS Adoption and Perception of Farmers towards Attributes of Improved Teff (Quncho) Varieties: Evidence from Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia Regasa Dibaba Wake1*, Afework Hagos Mesfin2, Chilot Yirga3, Endeshaw Habte3 1Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Assosa Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box: 265, Assosa, Ethiopia 2Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Assosa Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box: 265, Assosa, Ethiopia 3Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article No.: 041719071 Type: Research DOI: 10.15580/GJAS.2019.2.041719071 Adoption of improved Teff varieties (Quncho) is very important to increase productivity and it can also improve food security. To get the expected benefit, the technology should be adopted well by smallholder farmers. However, the rate of adoption of improved varieties in the country has remained low. Hence, the study looks in to preferences of small-holder farmers to varietal attributes that determine the adoption of Teff varieties in the study area. In this study, multistage sampling techniques were employed to select sampled households from two districts. About 249 smallholder farmers were selected randomly from nine kebele administrations proportionally. Both qualitative and quantitative types of data were used. Primary data was collected by using both close ended and open ended (semi- structured) questionnaire and personal interview, focus group discussion and key informant interview was used to collect the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. In 2015/16 production season, about 58.23% of the sampled household were adopters 41.77% of them didn’t adopt Teff varieties in the study area. The finding of this study suggest that farmers in the area seek specific varietal attributes, such as yield potential, tolerance to disease and lodging, better Teff grain price and color, etc. The farmers’ perceptions of improved Teff varieties-specific characteristics significantly determine adoption decisions, which suggests the need to go beyond the commonly considered socio-economic, demographic and institutional factors in adoption process. Information about the benefits of improved Teff varieties should be given for farmers to increase farmer’s awareness about the preferences and develop farmer’s attitude towards improved Teff varieties. Therefore, the research centers and extension system has to give more attention to participatory research which considers farmers’ priorities and needs. Submitted: 17/04/2019 Accepted: 25/04/2019 Published: 13/06/2019 *Corresponding Author Regasa Dibaba, E-mail: regasadibaba@ yahoo.com Keywords: Improved Teff varieties; small-holder farmers; Perceptions; Varietal attributes Return to Content View [Full Article – PDF] [Full Article – HTML] [Full Article – EPUB] Post-Publication Peer-review Rundown View/get involved, click [Peer-review] REFERENCES Alemitu Mulugeta.2011.Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Haricot bean Verities and Associated Agronomic Practices in Dale Woreda, SNNPS Ethiopia. M.Sc.Thesis Hawassa University. ATA (Agricultural Transformation Agency). 2012. Annual Report: Transforming Agriculture in Ethiopia”. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ATA (Agricultural Transformation Agency). 2016. Transforming agriculture in Ethiopia. Annual report2015/2016. CSA (Central Statistical Agency). 2010. ―Agricultural Statistics Abstract: Agriculture”. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. CSA (Central Statistical Agency). 2013. ―Agricultural Statistics Abstract: Agriculture”. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Fufa, B., B. Behute, R. Simons, and T. Berhe. 2011. Teff Diagnostic Report: Strengthening the Teff Value Chain in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Haftamu Gebretsadik, Mitiku Haile and Yamoah.C.F. 2009. Tillage frequency, Soil Compaction and N-Fertilizer Rate Effects on Yield of Teff ( Eragrostis Teff (Zucc) Trotter) in Central Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Agron.J 1 (1): 82 – 94. Tsibuk Berhe.2015.Factors affecting Adoption of Quncho Teff varity:The case of Medebayazaza woreda ,north –western Admenstration zone of Tigary Redion ,Ethiopa .M.Sc.Thesis Hawassa University. Cite this Article: Regasa Dibaba Wake; Afework Hagos Mesfin; Chilot Yirga; Endeshaw Habte (2019). Adoption and Perception of Farmers towards Attributes of Improved Teff (Quncho) Varieties: Evidence from Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences 9(2): 229-241, http://doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2019.2.041719071.
