WACHEMO UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

FACTORS AFFECTING WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY OF

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN ZABA GAZO WOREDA OF SOUTH
WESTERN REGION, ETHIOPIA

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITED TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL

ECONOMICS IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE
DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

BY: TAGASHU TADESSE

ID: 12D0582

ADVISOR: TESSEMA E. (MSC)

H
OSSANA,ETHIOPIA
NOVEMBER: 2022

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all I would like to say thanks to my GOD and individuals who helped me directly and
indirectly through my ups and downs in preparing this research proposal. My deepest thanks
expands to my advisor Mr. Tessema Erechafo for his continuous support and gudience.
Finally I would like to thanks all my respondents who provide available information about the
study honestly.

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 ACRONOMYS
FAO Food and Agricultural Organization
GDP Gross Domestic Product

GNP Gross National Product

OLS Ordinary Least Square

PADETES Participatory Demonstration and Training Extension System

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...........................................................................................II
ACRONOMYS....................................................................................................III
CHAPTRER ONE................................................................................................1
1. INTRORODUCTION.......................................................................................1
1.1 BACK GROUND OF THE STUDY...........................................................1
1.4 Objective of the study..................................................................................4
1.4.1 The general objective............................................................................4
1.4.2 Specific objectives................................................................................4
1.7 Significance of the study.............................................................................5
1.8 Scopes and limitation of the study...............................................................5
CHAPTER TWO..................................................................................................6
2. LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................6
2.1 Theoretical Literature review......................................................................6
2.1.1. General overviews................................................................................6
2.1.2 Small Holder farmers............................................................................7
2.1.3 Determinants of cereal crop productivity..............................................8
2.2.2 Gender and agricultural production.....................................................13
2.2.3Age, family size, landholding size and agricultural production...........14
2.3 Agricultural production technologies........................................................15
2.3.1 Chemical fertilize................................................................................15
2.3. Empirical Literature..................................................................................16
CHAPTER THREE............................................................................................18
3. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................18
3.1 Sample size and sampling techniques....................................................19

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 3.2 Data source and data collection tools.....................................................20
3.3 Data analysis techniques........................................................................20
3.3.1 Multiple regression model specification.............................................20
Reference……………………………………………………………………………………………………….26

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 CHAPTRER ONE
1. INTRORODUCTION
1.1 BACK GROUND OF THE STUDY

Agriculture is important sector in the world. It provides food for consumption

and raw material for most of agriculture based industrial and also creates
employment opportunities for large population in developing countries. As one
of the poorest countries in the world Ethiopia’s agriculture accounts for about
40% of National Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 90% of export and 85% of
total employment (CSA,2010).

From the total contribution of agricultural for Ethiopia GDP, cereal crops
accounts 70% of agricultural contribution to GDP. Cereal yield doubled over the
past decades, but in recent years cereal production has stagnated. This is due to a
number of factors like shortage of rainfall, land degradation, not using
recommended input level soil erosion, population pressure and others (Seyoumet
Al 2011).

Cereal crop productivity in developing countries has not been able to satisfy the
food requirement of the people. Food productions in developing countries like

Ethiopia have failed to satisfy consumption requirement. Naw days millions of

people in these countries do not have access to sufficient food to lead healthy
life. Increasing cereal crop production was becoming the main national strategy
to many developing countries (EEA, 2000)

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The foundation of Ethiopian economy was long remaining agriculture. But
development agriculture requires emphasis on a concurrent development of
industrialization.

In context this refers to the development those industries most closely related to
agriculture and referred to as agro- industry.

As agriculture plays a dominant role in the economy the real and sustainable
development of Ethiopia was, in any event unthinkable without sound progress
in the expansion of agriculture’s output. In spite of its importance in the national
economy, agriculture's were largely based on subsistence farm household, whose
modes of life and works have remained unchanged (CSA, 2006).

In Ethiopia small holder farmers are characterized by dependence on traditional

tools and farming practices, and agricultural products will be transported by the
primitive means. These factors resulted in reduction of farm output (Todaro,
2010).

Approximately 1.4 billion people in the world today live in extreme poverty
level that-they survive on less than the US dollar of 1.25 per day,(World bank
data base 2013).842 million people one out of eight people in the world do not
have enough food to eat. 98% of the world under nourished people lives in
developing countries. Among those 223 million people live in sub Saharan
Africa.75%of the world poorest people lives in rural areas and depends on
agriculture and related activities (FAO, 2011).

Angela is found in south western part of Ethiopia and where there is sufficient
food problem leading to poor health and low quality of life.

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The farmers in Zaba Gazo use both traditional and modern methods of farming.
due to this cereal crop production remains less productive. There for this study is
assess factors affecting smallholders farmers wheat productive in Zaba Gazo
woreda of south eastern Ethiopia

1.2 Statement of the problem

Even though the government has set strategy at country level to fight wide spread of poverty
and to improve food security through agriculture sector, it is known that the cereal crop
productivity remains very low, especially when it is compared to the rapid population growth.

According to the most recent report of Ethiopian Economy Association, gaining in the yield
level in the farming areas over the past few years for most cereal crops has not been able to
increase average yield for most countries as the whole (EEA, 2011).

In Ethiopia, the cereal crop sector is dominated by small holder farmers Small holder farmers
on average cultivated together a bout 95% of total area under cereal crop production and
produce more than 92% of total agricultural output. But cereal crop productivity of small
holder farmers is to be failed to fulfill the food security need (Ayelekuris, 2006).

In Ethiopia improvement in agricultural sector requires a more efficient use of natural

resources such as land, labor and capital since these resources are major of production. Hence
a better performance of agriculture will therefore depends on how well the constraints
hindering the proper functioning of these activities. Among the major factors behind are a
decline in farm size and subsistence farming, land degradation, variability of rainfall.

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Extension service and inadequate transport network are the major determinants that affect
agricultural output (Birhanu etal, 2010).

Specially, the above mentioned problems are common in the study [Link] on Tekleab
Addssie(2013) reports, fertilizer, education level, irrigation, number of oxen-per day and
compost have significant and positive relationship with wheat productivity while total land,
family size and market distance have significant and negative relationship with wheat
productivity.

So this study will attempt to see the factor that affect wheat productivity in Zaba Gazo woreda
of south western Ethiopia.

1.3 Research question

[Link] factors affect smallholder farmers wheat productivity in Zaba Gazo

woredas

[Link] are the existing opportunities and challenges faced in smallholder farmer
wheat production in Zaba Gazo woreda

1.4 Objective of the study

1.4.1 The general objective
The general objective of this study is to identify factors that affecting wheat
productivity of small holder farmers in Zaba Gazo woreda of south western
Ethiopia.

1.4.2 Specific objectives

Specific objectives of the study are

 To identify factors that affecting smallholder farmers wheat crop

productivity in Zaba Gazo woreda.

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  To examine existing opportunities and challenges faced by smallholder
wheat producers in Zaba Gazo woreda.

1.7 Significance of the study

The result of the study would be an important input for public sector especially
for the agricultural sector and it will also serve as reference for other young
researchers which they wish to conduct a further study around this study area in
the future.

1.8 Scopes and limitation of the study

This study was conducted in Angela kebele; Zaba Gazo Woreda. It contains
small holder farmers in the study area producing cereal crop production in
general wheat productivity in particular. The results of this study may not be a
good representative of all sub kebeles

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 CHAPTER TWO

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Theoretical Literature review
2.1.1. General overviews
The small holder farmers are subsistence for most output produced for family
consumption (although, some may be sold or trade in local markets and few
staple food crops usually including wheat, barely, sorghum, corn, teffs) are chief
source of food intake. Output and productivity are low and only the simplest
traditional method and tools are used. Capital invest is minimal, land and labor
are the principal factors of production, (Adam smith, 2003).

Subsistence agriculture is highly risky and uncertain in the region where farms
are extensively small and cultivation is dependent on uncertainties of variable
rainfall. Average output will be low and the peasants will be exposed to the very
real danger of starvation. Accordingly when risky and uncertainty are high, small
holder farmers may be very reluctant to shift from traditional technology and
crop pattern to a new one that provides higher yields, but entail greater risk of
crop failure, (Adam smith, 2003).

A cereal crop is generally defined as a grass grown for its small edible seed. It
has been the most important source of the world’s seed. Cereals group are the
most widely adopted crop species. They can be grown under adverse condition
with a least some yield. These broad ranges of adaption the efficiency of
production with which cereal can be stored make them dependable source of
food.

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2.1.2 Small Holder farmers
Small holder farmers are farmers which derives their livelihood mainly from
agriculture utilize family labor in farm production most output is produced for
family consumption. (Dail, Agro-economics a duet, 2011).

Subsistence farming on small plot of land it is way of life for the vast majority of
Ethiopian people and its productivity is low. In spite of the existence of some
unused land and potentially cultivable land, only small areas can plant and
weeded by farm family at the time when it uses only traditional tools. In some
areas traditional farming practices must rely primly on the application of human
labor to small pare parcels of land. The given limited area of that a farm family
can cultivate in the context of a traditional technology and the use of primitive
tools. This small area tends to be intensively cultivated. As the result, they are
subject to rapidly diminishing return to increase labor input. In such condition
shifting cultivating is the most economic method of using limited suppliers of
labor on extensive tracts of land ,(Michael .P Tadoro, 2003).

Small holders are being the back bone of the economy provide the largest
portion of basic food supply for the urban population or raw material for agro-
industries and exportable agricultural commodities. Small holder are
characterized by almost exclusive use of family labor in the production process
direct dependence on farm for subsistence requirements, low level of
productivity, absence of farm mechanization and degree of specialization,
(Hannover University,1991).

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2.1.3 Determinants of cereal crop productivity
In developed country, productivity of agriculture has significantly increased
while proportion of the population in the sector decline. On the other hand, the
economies of low income countries of the world are predominantly agrarian with
traditional system and extremely low labor productivity in the agricultural sector.

Consequently, it is better to outline factors affecting agricultural output specially,

cereal crop output by using some method of arrangement.

Different authors used different classification schemes of agricultural output

growth determinants

Wilber (2001) divides agricultural output growth determinants into conventional

(land, labor, physical capital, and fertilizer) and non-conventional factors of
production which include private and public agricultural research education,
infrastructure, government program and policies and environmental degradation,
(Senai, 2006).

Millikan and Hap well divided the determinant of agricultural output into five
major categories. These are physical input factors, economic factors,
organizational factors, cultural and motivational factors, and knowledge factors.
Each of which is further divided into a series of sub categories, (Millikan and
Hap well).

I. The Physical Input Factors

The physical factors further sub divided into non-human (non -labor) physical
input and labor physical input. Non labor physical are land, seeds, water,
fertilizer, pesticide, structure, work animals, tools , machinery , fuel and power

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other than animal power, (Ibid.p.15).

A. Unpredictable Weather Condition

Lack of adequate rain fall, the variability and seasonality of rain fall affected
agricultural output in general and cereal crop in particular living the country
exposed to commercial food imports and food aids.

B. Erosion and Land Degradation

As population pressure increase particularly in the highlands, farmers intensively

exercise deforestation. This will leave farm lands grazing exposed to erosion
followed by massive and degradation.
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C. Land Fragmentation

The increase in the size of rural population coupled with limited area of farming
land in the highlands has led to land fragmentation. As the size of farm house
holds increases redistribution of land has continued reducing per capital and size.

D. Irrigation

Irrigation is the most important determinants of agricultural output. Constraint of

on agricultural development is the amount of water available rather than supply
of land. In the near and far east, there are many regions use the available water
resource as intensively as possible, as long as it is economic to do so, ([Link],
2000).

II. The Economic Environmental Factors

The economic environment is the determinant of agricultural, particularly cereal

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crop concentrates on the development of other sector of the economy. It is inter
sectional linkage that is believed to be the major determinant of agricultural
growth. The factors include under the economic environment by Millikan and
Hap good are:

 Transport, storage, processing and marketing facilities

for product

 Facilities for the supply and distribution of inputs

including credit

 Input prices including interest rate

 Product prices including price of consumer

 Taxes, subsidies and quotas

Lack of infrastructure is one of the critical problems especially in the rural

country of Ethiopia.

This hinders agricultural production process from purchase of inputs up to

marketing product. Transportation cost will account a high proportion of price of
agricultural products.

The existence of agricultural credit market has a lot of impact on the amount of
farm output when farmers cannot afford top finance purchases of improved
seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and provision of irrigation facilities, etc. are the only
option to resemble is credit. Thus, the absence of credit facilities could become a
consequential bottleneck to use the modern technology. In this regard, the

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problem of peasant farmers deserves species consideration, (Assef Admassie,
1987).

This is very critical problem as agricultural market play a significant role in

increasing production and stimulating economic development. Further,The
points out those efficient and integral market ensure optimal allocation of
resources in agriculture and motivate farm to increase output. Under developed
output, input and capital market could negate any effect aimed and at increasing
agricultural production and productivity, (Ibid).

Organizational factors

Organizational factors for cereal crop production development listed by kobboo

and imaano is good organizational composed of land tenure, farm size and legal
form, general government service and policies and voluntary and statutory
farmers organization for coordinate physical input, economic service, local
government and diffusion of knowledge.

The organizational factors is regarded as the means to bring the package to

farmer’s producer; from ministry and research station to the farm itself without
these factor the package is incomplete and the other factors will remain barren.
The main advocate of organizational factors is important input to increase
agricultural output is experts of public administration. The possible solution of
agricultural problem in developing countries lies better organization, better
training of civil servants, and higher status for government program in
agriculture.

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 III Knowledge factors

The major advocates of the importance of farmers’ education to increase

productivity of crops and provide high pay off in changing, moldering
environment then in traditional agriculture ([Link])

In transforming traditional agriculture farmers use all the variable techniques of

production efficiently. This means “farmers are efficient but poor.” The only
option for him, to break this dead lack to increase technical skill of production in
economic terms, this would shift the production possibilities frontier out wards
giving more yield as belief of [Link].

The technological advancement is the obvious difference between farmers in

developing and developed countries. Farmers in developing countries still use
animal power to cultivate while their counter parts in the the poor performance
of food grain production in developing countries,
(MulatDemeke2003).developing countries ease their burden by using machinery
and equipment for agricultural production. Low level of technology utilization is
one of the major factor behind

V. Cultural and motivational factors

Only the availability of improved technologies and their distribution or extension

workers do not sufficient for the proper implementation of agricultural
technologies distribution. Cultural and motivational factors for the adoption of
improved technologies ply a key role to fill the gap and bring about on end tour
goals. It was commonly believed that Africa peasants do not react to improved
technology and economic incentives. It is Currently believed that peasant

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production is target production. The peasants’ desire a target income and when
they get this do not care to expand production and they may do not even harvest
crop, (Emanuel Okwuosa). In general this factor include: social structure,
cultural values, dynamic of peasant communities, process of social cultural
change and integration and value of agricultural institution practice with the
culture of society and etc.

2.2.2 Gender and agricultural production

Gender refers to socially constructed roles and relationships of women and men
in a given culture or location (Olayemi, 2012, p. 237). In enhancing agricultural
production and income, the full participation of men and women is very
important. Women tend to be the major players in the farm labour force engaged
in production, harvesting and processing activities (Chow Garforth and Caredey
2013).It is also known that the majority of food is produced by women farmers
and they are Responsible for fulfilling the basic needs of the family
(Camara,etal,2011,p.141).Studies have also indicated that women farmers are
more Environmentally conscious compared to men farmers (Burton, 2013, p.
22). Nevertheless, there are research findings that indicate the existence of
gender inequalities in the agricultural sector.

For instance, there is categorization of some crops to be “men’s crops” and

others as “women’s crops” (Mohammed, & Abdulquadir, 2011, p. 37). A study
conducted in Ghana by Ideate et al. (2012, p. 240) indicated that vegetable
production demanded more physical strength and was dominated by men. On the
other hand, de Brauw, Li, Liu, Rozelle and Zhang (2008, p. 343) revealed that, in

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China, the contribution of women to livestock production was 64 percent while
59 percent of the marketing work was dominated by men. They noted that this is
labour feminization and that the earnings are controlled by their male
counterparts. Women farmers are also challenged by the absence of capital,
information and access to markets which prevents them from producing enough
to fulfill the basic necessities (Jeffry, &Suleiman, 2013, p. 470). The scarcity of
knowledge related to women’s rights exposes them to land grabbing and the loss
of their heritage (Camera etal., 2011, p. 146).

2.2.3Age, family size, landholding size and agricultural production

Agricultural production is influenced by other household characteristics such as
the farm operator’s age, family size and landholding size.

The age of the household head is a proxy variable for the farming experience of
farm operators. Farmers will highly dependent on their knowledge of farm
practices in cultivating different crops (Adomi, etal, 2003, p. 390). Hence,
experienced farmers will expected to enhance the productivity of their holdings.
However, it is not without limit as older farmers lack the required physical
strength on the farm and lower the probability of technology adoption (Mous,
etal, 2011, p. 363; Burton, 2013, p. 23).Land is the most critical natural resource
for countries like Ethiopia where the agricultural sector is the engine of the
national economy (Amsalu,etal,2006, p. 448).Farm operators with larger
landholding sizes would have a better farm income if sufficient family labor was
available. This leads to an increased demand for children who can work on the
land (Hedican, 2006, p. 324; Kim, &Park, 2009, p.278).

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It is not possible to expand the landholding size without matching it with an
increase in the size of the household. Hence, households with larger families face
a challenge to feed each of the family members and this will have its own
negative effect on the nutritional status of the family (Olayemi, 2012, p. 137).

2.3 Agricultural production technologies

Agricultural production technologies include biological and chemical
technologies. Specifically, these technologies include chemical fertilizers,
selected seeds or High Yielding Varieties, irrigation and soil quality enhancing
technologies. Farmers use these technologies in order to enhance the production
and productivity of the land. It is also indicated that, for poor farmers, adoption
of technology places new demands on their limited resource base
(Kamruzzaman, & Takeya, 2008, p. 218).
2.3.1 Chemical fertilize
African governments have promoted the increasing use of agricultural inputs in
their own countries inspired by the Asian Green Revolution which was brought
about by using high-

yielding seed and fertilizer technologies(Crawford, Kelley, Jayne, &Howard,

2003, p. 277).

In a similar vein argued that the entry point for intensification is the use of
organic and inorganic fertilizer in the Sahel because, if soil fertility is not
improved, the use of other technologies such as high-yielding varieties will not
have a significant impact. Crawford et al. (2003, p. 281-2) further indicated that
the objectives of input promotion strategies have many features such as financial,
economic, social and political objectives. The financial aspect of the input

15
promotion strategy is to increase the net income of farmers, traders or other
participants in the agricultural economy. The economic feature of input
promotion strategy is also to increase the real income of the society as a whole.
The social aspect of the input program is the improvement of welfare indicators
that are difficult to measure in terms of monetary values. Some of the social
objectives are to improve nutrition intake and national food self-sufficiency. The
political objective of the input program arises because of the government
intervention for the sake of equalization of benefits. Some programs may be
designed intentionally to build political support; as a consequence, they may
benefit one or more groups at the expense of others.

2.3. Empirical Literature

According to EEA,(2000) agricultural production in Ethiopia is characterized by

severe fluctuations usually following the fluctuation in the rears and highly
correlated to the overall performance of the economy. Agricultural share in GDP
is about 53% during the derg and 51.2% under EPDRF. The highest growth rate
in agriculture was achieved in 2002/87when it grew by 18.8% while the lowest
was achieved during the drought year of 2003/85 where it declined by about
21%.

Stephenson,(2007) studies shows in Ethiopia cereal crop sectors are dominated

by small holder farmers. The small holder farmers on average account for 95%
of total area under crop and for more than 90% of total agricultural output. In
addition, according to MEDAC (2008), 94% of food crops are produced by small
holder farmers.

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Small holder farmers are vital for Ethiopia’s agriculture and rural economy.
Small holder farmers defined as those marginal and sub marginal farm house
holds that own or land cultivated less than 2.00 hectare of land cultivate about
78% of the countries farmers (at agricultural census, 1990/91). These small
holder farmers owned only 23% of the total cultivated land their contribution to
national grain production was nonetheless 41%. Their contribution to household
food security and poverty alleviation is thus dis-proportionally high and is
increasing. Moreover, as the national population increases, so does the number
of small holding (FAO, corporate document repository).

Cereal are the most dominant among the field of crops accounting for 88.3% and
83.2% of total population and cultivated area respectively for the period of 2000
-2006. The performance of field crops improved after 1991 owning improved
policy environment increased availability of input such as fertilizer and relative
good weather cereal crop production rose to 110.6 million quintals, while area
harvested jumped to 8.8 million hectors in 2011 (EEA, 2000).

In the performance of cereal from 2004 to 2010 is that of the output achieved
even during this low period was significantly better than the average output
levels of derg period. The production in 2001/2008 was higher than the derg
period by about 48%. On the other hand, land covered by cereals increased by
44.8% in 2003/2009 (EEA, 2000).

The performance of the main cereal staples that included wheat, teff, maize and
sorghum was once again remarkable in the reporting period close to 145 million
quintals of cereal crops have been harvested from 8.8 million hectares of farm

17
lands. In terms of production the years of 2008/9 production exceeds the
achievement of the 2003/4 production year by 70% and represents of the fifth
consecutive bumper harvest. Official sources indicate that over the past five
years, production has increased an average by 14% (EEA, 2007/08).

According to EEA,(2007) shows the agricultural sector has been said that time
and again the agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy not just
because it constitutes almost half of the GDP but also because more than 85%of
the population still depend on it for their livelihood. As a result the government
has given more attention to the development of agriculture. So that they would
increasingly benefit from small plot of land, and surplus labor could increasingly
move to industrial sector. However, the attempt to increase productivity has not
yield the expected outcome.

CHAPTER THREE

3. METHODOLOGY .

This chapter presents the results from the descriptive and economic analysis. The
descriptive analysis made up of tools such as mean, maximum, standard
deviation, minimum, percentage, frequency and cumulative frequency.
Econometric analysis was carried out to identify the most important factor that

18
determines wheat productivity and to measure relative importance of significant
explanatory variables on wheat productivity.

Description of the study area

Zaba Gazo woreda found in western part of South Western region with moderate
temperature. The hot season last for three months from January to March for
about 65 degree to 83 degree fahrenhiet.
METHO OF DATA COLLECTION
The study is collected by using method of primary data collection method by
taking the sample and asking of them about the selected title and also the study is
also conducted by using secondary source from recorded history about wheat
productivity.

3.1 Sample size and sampling techniques

The population of the study consists of small holder farmers who are living in 3
sub-kebeles in Angela kebele. The entire population cannot be considered due
to the presence of large number of population, time and resource limitation.

The sample size can be calculated using Ya mane's formula

No=n/(1+(e2)*n)

Where No=number of sample size

n=total household in the study area=1190

e=confidence level=0.1

No=1190/ (1+(0.1)21190) =92.2

There are two main techniques of sapling in the research study. These are
probability sampling and non-probability sampling. The study was used simple

19
random sampling techniques, with a homogeneous population in various aspects,
like culture, color and living standard etc.

3.2 Data source and data collection tools

The study was collected primary data source. Primary data were collected from
rural household farms in the study area. Using questionnaire and structured
interview.

3.3 Data analysis techniques

The methodology the researcher will use simple descriptive and econometric
model in presenting and estimating factors that affect cereal crop (wheat)
productivity of small holder farmer in the study area. In the econometric model
the ordinary least square (OLS) estimation technique will use in the form of
multiple linear regression models will specified as follows.

3.3.1 Multiple regression model specification

This model specified as follows

Yi =α+βjxji +ui

YI=F(Fr,NOLF,NOox,Do,Her,Co,Edu,Gen,Tclw,Age,Is,hlt,)

YI=α+β1fr+β2nolf+β3noox+β4do+β5her+β6co+β7edu+β8gen+β9tclw+β10age+β
11is+β12hlt+ui

Where i= 1, 2, 3, ---------------92(sample size)

J = 1, 2, 3---------------12 (number of explanatory variables)

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Yi =dependent variable (wheat harvest or wheat yield measures in terms of
qunitals per hectare)

α=intercept

βj= coefficient of getting independent variable

xji= independent variable

ui= unobserved error or disturbance term .

Wheat (yi):- it is dependent variable simply we get by dividing out per quintal
gained from a plot of land to farm size per hectare use for production of outputs
which shows the productivity of small holder farmers.

Fertilizer (fr ):- it is independent variable which captures the amount of

fertilizer (both DAP and UREA) used per kilogram in 2016 cropping seasons. It
has estimated to be positive effect on production of wheat

Number of labor force in the household head :- this variable incorporates the
active labor force in the household head. Since our farming system is subsistence
farming, so that farmers use their own family as a labor force and estimated to be
positive effect on wheat productivity.

Number of oxen per day (no-ox):- households who use more number of oxen
per day have better performance in wheat productivity. Therefore it has positive
effect on wheat yield.

Donkey (do):- it is a dummy variable which takes the value 1 if the households
have donkey and 0, otherwise. It is estimated to be positive effect on wheat
yield.

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Herbicide (hr):- it is a dummy variable which takes the value 1 if the household
uses herbicide 0, otherwise. This variable estimated to have negative effect on
wheat productivity.

Compost (co):- it is a dummy variable which takes the value 1, if the household
uses compost 0, otherwise. Compost is a natural fertilizer which increases
productivity without incurring much more cost. This variable has positive effect
on the dependent variable.

Education (edu):- farmers become more educated they understand and gather
information [Link] estimated to have positive relation with the dependent
variable.

Gender (gen):- it is a dummy variable which takes the value 1, if the household
head is male 0, otherwise .males have better performance than females in the
production of wheat.

Total cultivated land of wheat production (Tclw):- this variable incorporates

the total amount of land that small holder farmers used for production of wheat.
It includes own land, rented from other households land. Farmer who has larger
farm land is less productive than farmers with small plot of land due to
efficiency basis. Therefore this variable is expected to have negative effect on
dependent variable.

Age (age):- old farmers are less productive than young farmers. Therefore it is
expected to have negative effect on wheat productivity.

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Improved seed (is):- it is an explanatory variable farmer use improved seed are
more productive than farmers without improved seed. Therefore it is expected to
have positive effect on the dependent variable.

Healthy status (hls):- it is a dummy variable which takes value 1, if the

households are healthy 0, unhealthy. It expected to have positive effect on the
dependent variable.

CHAPTER FOUR

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 4. WORK AND BUDGET PLAN

4.1 WORK PLAN

Table 4.1. Activity Plan

Activity AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

19-21
Specifying the area of the study √
Title selection √

Literature review √
Preparing the proposal √
1st draft proposal √

Data collection √

Conclusion of the finding √

Recommendation √

Submission and presentation the final 

research

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 Budget plan

Item Unit Amount Unit Total

price
Pen 2 2 20 40
Paper Packet 1 200 200
Telephone 1 7 days 15 105
Flesh 1 1 350 350
Internet - 3 days 75 75
Total - - - 770

25
 REFERENCE

Adomie etal,(2003,p.390) gender factors in crop farmer accesses to agricultural

area of delta state, Nigeria.

Assefa and Adimasie, (1987) Estimation of technical efficiency of small holder

farmers and central highland of Ethiopia.

Asfaw and admassie (2004) the role of education on adoption of chemical

fertilizer under socioeconomic environment in Ethiopia.

BefikaduDegefe and BirhanuNega (2004) Agriculture in Ethiopia and its

constraint.

Burton ,(2013,p.22) influence of farmers demographic characteristic on

environmental behavior.

Camara ,etal(2011) impact assessment of women's farmer activity on poverty

reduction and food security.

Chow, Garforth,andCaredey.(2013) farmers experience pluralistic agriculture.

CSA,(central statistical agency of Ethiopia,2006)Agricultural sample survey

various editions, Addis Ababa Ethiopia

CSA,(2008)summery and statistical report of 2007 population and housing

census population size by age and sex.

CSA,(2009) agricultural sampling survey on crop and livestock.

26
EEA(2006),evaluation of the Ethiopian agricultural Extension with a particular
emphasis on participatory demonstration and training Extension
system(PADETTES) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

FAO (2003) Statically year book FAO Rome, Italy.

Gujarati D.N(2004),Basic econometrics, Fourth edition

[Link] (2003) Economic development 11th edition.

MulatDemeke (2003) Challenges of increasing of food production.

Mohammed and abduquadir,(2011,p.37) comparative analysis of gender

involvement in agricultural production.

Olayemi,(2012,p.137) effect of family size on food security.

T.W Schultz transforming traditional agriculture Yabe university press.

Tecleab adssie,(2013) determinant of cereal crop production in Tigray region.

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 WACHEMO UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
APPENDIX
Dear respondents this questioner is prepared to conduct a senior essay for the requirement of bachelor of art
degree in Agricultural economics. The main objective of this questioner is to collect reliable data about the
factors affecting wheat productivity in Zaba Gazo Woreda. Therefore you respondents are kindly requested to
cooperate for the success of the study by giving the desirable information. Thanks in advance for your
coordination and honest.

[Link] A, male B, female

[Link] ---------------------------------------
[Link] you literate? A, yes B, no
[Link] your answers for question number three is A, what is your level of education?
A, grade 1-4
B, grade 5-8
C, grade 9-10
D, more than grade 10
[Link] you use fertilizer? A, yes B, no
[Link] your answer for question number 5 is A, how much kilogram do you use?
---------------------
[Link] many labor forces do you have in your family size? --------------------------------------
[Link] is the number of oxen per day used to produce wheat? ----------------------------
[Link] you have donkey? A, yes B, no

[Link] you use herbicide A, yes B, no

[Link] you use compost A, yes B, no

[Link] is the nature of your land fertility A, fertile B, non-fertile

13. Healthy status A, healthy B, unhealthy

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 14. How much amount of farm land use to produce wheat? ---------------------------------

15. Do you use improved seed A, yes B, no

16. If your answer for question number 13 is A, how much kilo gram do you use? ----------------------

17. Do you use credit facility A, yes B, no

18. How much quintal of wheat did you receive in previous year? ----------------

19. For what purpose do you the farm output?

A, for consumption purpose

B, for market purpose
C, for both consumption and market purpose

20. What are the challenges of wheat production?

A, bad weather
B, low education level

C, smallness of farm size

D, lack of experience

E, lack of access to fertilizer

F, if others mention --------------------------------

21. What do you think the way to solve those problems and increase wheat production?

--------

A, providing additional farm land

B, providing sufficient accesses to credit

C, getting training

D, providing sufficient fertilizer

E, if others mention ---------------------

29
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