Farmers’ Perceptions of Agricultural Lime Technology, Contributions, and their Determinants in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil acidity poses a significant challenge to agricultural production in Ethiopia, with over forty-three percent of farmland affected, leading to low crop yields. Agricultural lime is widely recognized as an effective solution for addressing soil acidity. This study aims to evaluate the perception of smallholder farmers and factors influencing the adoption of agricultural lime technology in key intervention sites where research centers and other organizations have implemented interventions. A sample of 162 households from three study sites was chosen using a multi-stage random sampling method. Data was collected through structured interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The Likert scale and ordered probit model were utilized to assess farmers' perceptions and determinants of agricultural lime technology adoption, respectively. The results revealed that the majority of farmers had a positive perception of the benefits of ag-lime technology. Farmers also demonstrated a good understanding of soil acidity issues on their farms, as well as the causes and potential mitigation strategies across all sites. However, significant challenges were identified, including limited availability of lime, accessibility, sustainability, and a lack of soil acidity testing services. The study also highlighted a strong and positive demand for lime technology, suggesting a need to strengthen the supply side by enhancing the capacity of private and public lime enterprises in terms of production and delivery. Therefore, it is recommended that stakeholders focus on variables that have shown a positive and significant impact on lime technology adoption to increase participation and effectively address soil acidity issues. By addressing these challenges, adoption of ag-lime technology could help improve crop productivity in areas prone to soil acidity