Determinants of solar technology adoption in rural households: The case of Belesa districts, Amhara region of Ethiopia

Abstract

The adoption of modern energy such as solar energy has been recognized as, an important way to reduce carbon emissions and enrich the energy supply of rural households in Ethiopia. This study investigated the factors that determine the solar technology adoption in rural households in case of West Belesa and East Belesa districts of Ethiopia. Data were collected from 500 farm households which were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique procedure through a structured survey questionnaire with online KOBO application through the Computer-Assisted-Personal-Interview (CAPI) system. The data was collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Binary logit models were utilize to analyze the data. The finding of the study revealed that seven independent variables were significant in explaining the factors affecting farmers’ adoption of solar technology. These variables were education status, family size, participation in natural resource management activity, extension services, knowledge about solar technology, credit utilization, and perception of climatic change were the positive determinants of adoption. Based on the finding, the study recommends that the government should raise farmers’ awareness through increase access of education and improved especially credit services to rural household’s to increase the adoption of solar energy technology.

Keywords:

• Solar energy
• adoption
• determinates
• rural households
• Ethiopia

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Renewable energies such as solar are considered as clean sources of energy that minimize environmental impacts and are sustainable with regard to current and future economic and social needs. Solar Technology offers an attractive option for replacing the unsustainable usage of traditional energy sources such as firewood, cow dung, and charcoal challenges, mainly in rural areas. The current level of solar technology adoption and is not at its optimum level due to socio-economic and demographical factors. Therefore, the author is highly interested to recommend that the government and non-government organization work together provide credit service for rural households to increase the adoption of solar energy technology.

Acknowledgements

The author’s thanks special and sincere gratitude goes to CARE, Ethiopia project for supporting me financially. Also, thank CARE project staffs and development agents in East and West Belesa. Woredas for their help in organizing local people during the survey work. I also thank to my respondents for their patience in providing all the necessary information for my study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Notes on contributors

Mohammed Ahmed

Yasin Ahmed was born in Assosa Woreda, Assosa Zone of Benishangul Regional State in February 1992. He also attended his elementary, secondary and preparatory school education at Assosa Secondary and Preparatory High School in Assosa zone. After completion of his high school education, he joined Wollo University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (WU) in October 2012 and graduated with BSc Degree in Agricultural Economics in July 03/2014. Soon after his graduation, Assistance Lecturer I employed him at Assosa University. After two year experience the author joined Bahir Dar University College of Agriculture and Environmental since in October 2018 to pursue of his MSc degree in Agricultural Economics in regular program. After the accumulation of my master degree I joined Assosa University College of agriculture and Natural Resource as Lecturer in department of Agricultural Economics.