Joint Adoption Patterns of Dairy Production Technologies in SNNP and Amhara National Regional States of Ethiopia

Abstract

Increased use of improved dairy technology packages could bring improvements in dairy productivity, production, household income and poverty alleviation. In spite of this, the adoption of such technologies has remained low in Ethiopia. However, empirical evidence on factors influencing joint adoption of dairy technologies remains unclear. Determinants of joint adoption of dairy production technologies were investigated using primary data collected from a sample of 1242 dairy farmers in six selected zones of SNNP and Amara National Regional States. A multivariate probit model (MVP) was used to analyze the data. The results of the study revealed that adoption rates of crossbred dairy cows and improved forages were 21 and 29%, respectively. It was also noted that 21 and 50% of the households have adopted improved concentrates and veterinary services, respectively. The findings have also figured out that only 2% of the households have adopted all four technologies of crossbred cows, concentrates, improved forages and health services as a package. Instead, adopting only two technologies was commonly experienced by 57% of the households. The MVP model results showed the existence of correlation in the adoption decision of crossbred cows, concentrates, improved forage and veterinary services. The results also revealed that farmers’ adoption of technologies varied significantly and explanatory variables had heterogeneous effects on the adoption of various technologies. Ceteris paribus, the study results further revealed that education, age, family size, training, membership in a dairy cooperative, off-farm participation, dairy income, perception, gender, access to credit, extension, experience in the use of improved crop varieties and farm size had a positive and significant effect on the choice decisions of adopting dairy technologies. From the study, it can be recommended that the adoption of dairy technology packages needs to be strongly promoted through effective extension services. Apart from this, the farmers need to be advised to adopt packages of technologies to ensure maximum benefits. Establishing crossbred heifer rearing ranches and commercializing feed resources in the regions could also largely enhance the adoption of dairy technologies.