THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FARMERS RESEARCH GROUP APPROACH IN POTATO TECHNOLOGY DISSEMINATION AND ADOPTION CASE STUDY OF WESTERN PART OF ETHIOPIA

Ayalew A. Worku

Abstract


This paper anticipated to identify the contribution of farmers research group (FRG) approaches in enhancing improved potato technology dissemination and adoption in western part Ethiopia Welemera district. Within the district two peasant administrative units namely Telecho and IlalaGojo were selected purposefully because of the presence of different FRGs operating in this two administrative units. A total of one hundred and thirty potato producers’ farmers (54 from FRG members and 76 from non-members) were selected. In the selection, non-replaceable lottery method and proportional to size sampling techniques were used. The sampled respondents were interviewed by using structured interview schedule. To collect the qualitative data, group discussion was also undertaken with selected farmers, development agents and agricultural researchers. Statistical tests like chi-square, t-test, and one-way ANOVA were used to test the variation among the FRG and non-FRG. The statistical analysis for FRG members’ respondents indicated that there is no significant difference of using improved potato technology packages. The adoption index score is 1 or 100% it means that all FRG members were adopted improved potato packages. The result of statistical analysis (ANOVA) indicated that there was significant variation (F= 34.47, P=0.000) among the adoption index score between the three categories at 1% level of significant, which indicates difference of adoption of potato technology packages among sampled non-FRG respondents. The overall finding of the study underlined that FRG approach has contributed to significant extent for adoption of improved potato production technologies. The most important thing point out by the respondents were non-FRG participant farmers have very great interest to be a member of FRG and also different stakeholders involvement is crucial to strengthen existing FRGs and in the establishment of new FRGs.


Keywords


Farmers research group, improved potato technology, participation.

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