IMPACT OF IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES ADOPTION ON FARM HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN EAST SHEWA ZONE, ETHIOPIA.

Background: Promoting and provision of improved agricultural inputs technology innovations-, is key to increase the productivity through intensification of smallholders farms. However, there are limited rigorous impact evaluations on the contributions of such combinations of improved technologies on household income. This paper investigates the impact of improved agricultural technology use on farm household income in East Shewa Ethiopia. Methods: The study uses a multi stage sampling procedure to select 400 sample households. Data were collected using a household survey, a focus group discussant (FGD) and key informant interviews. Binary logistic regression model and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to analyse the data collected. Results: Results of the propensity score matching analysis showed that households using improved agricultural technologies had on average the annual income higher than the adopters by Ethiopia Birr 14,407.96. We found the importance of promoting complementary agricultural technologies among rural smallholders. Conclusions: The farmers are using improved agricultural inputs widely and their status may be vary from farmer to farmer based on availability, accessibility and lack of awareness of the issues involved. The adoption of multiple combinations of improved technologies has substantial effects that improve the agricultural productivity status of smallholders in the study areas. We suggest that rural technology generation, promotion, dissemination and adoption interventions be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]