The perception and determinants of agricultural technology adaptation of teff producers to climate change in North Shewa zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The ongoing climate change is vital to exert context-specific responses to allay its adverse effects. The purpose of this study is to examine the perception and determinants of agricultural technology adaptation of teff producers to climate change in North Shewa zone, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 378 farming households through a multistage and simple proportional sampling procedure. Both descriptive and econometric analyses were used in this study. A Heckman probit model and a multinomial logit (MNL) model are used to examine the determinants of perception and adaptation to climate change, respectively. The results of the Heckman probit model revealed that gender, farm experience, access to extension services and information access were found to have a significant influence on the probability of farmers to perceive and/or adapt to climate change. The multinomial logit models showed that education, gender of the household head being male, marital status, farming experience, income, access to information, livestock ownership, tenure status, and access to extension are the main factors that increase adaptive capacity. However, distance to the nearest market and family size negatively and significantly affect the decision to adopt various agricultural technologies. This study recommends that, Future development initiatives should focus on enhencing perception and scaling up climate change adaption technology, which calls for a public-private collaboration and a shared vision of all potential stakeholders.

Keywords:

• Heckman probit model
• multinomial logit model
• climate change
• perception
• adaptation

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Currently in Ethiopia, the perception of climate change and adoption of modern agricultural technology are very low. Therefore, this study intends to examine the perception and determinants of agricultural technology adaptation of teff producers to climate change in North Shewa zone. Results showed that gender, marital status, tropical livestock units, distance to market, visit of extension, and cultivated land size are the major determinants of agricultural technology adoption.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their supportive comments and suggestion.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Kebele is an Amharic word which means the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have not received funding for this research

Notes on contributors

Girma Mulugeta Emeru

Girma Mulugeta Emeru Girma Mulugeta Emeru completed his First Degree in Economics from Debre Berhan University and Master’s Degree in Developmental Economics from Hawassa University, Ethiopia. Currently, he is a lecturer of Economics at Debre Berhan University. In his career, Girma has published more than four research articles on agricultural technology adoption, urban livelihood diversification strategies, Ethiopian energy sector, and women labor force participations in reputable journals. He has also reviewed journal manuscripts related to his field of specialization invited from recognized publisher of Taylor & Francis.