Abstract :

Potato is vital crop for income and food security in parts of Ethiopia by virtue of its ability to mature earlier than most other crops. This study aimed to identify factors that determine amount of income earned by household’s from potato in Dedo and Seka Chokersa districts of Jimma zone, Ethiopia. For this study 152 potato producers were randomly selected, quantitative and qualitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected through interview schedule from potato producing farmers. Descriptive and econometric data analysis was used to convert raw data into information. Tobit model was employed to identify determinants of income earned by households from potato farming. The results of econometric analysis shows that active family labor, access to credit, number of extension contact and access to market information influenced amount of income earned by household’s from potato significantly and positively. Distance from market center and age of house hold head affected amount of income earned from potato farming negatively. Therefore, concerned bodies should provide training for development agents and speed up the frequency of contact with potato farmers, strengthen the financial capability of potato farmers. Initiate active family labor involvement in potato production and marketing activities; improve infrastructures (road and telecommunications) of rural village to increase household’s income from potato farming.

---

Keywords :

Income: Potato; Tobit model

---

References :

1. Abdi, E. R. (2016). Income determinants of Irish potato (Solanumtuberosum L.) growers: the case of west Arsi Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Net Journal of Agricultural Science, 4(1), 1-8.
https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20163212639
2. AsresieHassen, AlemuWorku, MollaTafere, MekonenTolla, Abel Ahmed, SeferewDagnew, YihenewG.Selassie, DesallegnMolla and Tesfaye Abebe, 2015. Best fit practice manual for potato production and utilization working paper. Bahardar University CASCAPE.
http://www.bdu.edu.et/sites/default/files/publication/8%20Potato%20produciton%20manual_0.pdf
3. FAO, 2009. Sustainable potato production guidelines for developing countries.
https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20103083016
4. Getachew. B, 2015. Analysis of Potato Seed Tuber Value Chain: The Case of Small Scale Farmers in Jeldu District of West Zone Shawa Oromia, Ethiopia .An M.Sc Thesis Presented to the School of Graduate Studies of Haramaya University.
5. Maddala, G.S., 1997. Limited Dependent and Qualitative Variables in Econometrics. Cambridge University press, Cambridge. pp. 175-181.
6. Meaza Hafiz,2015. Participatory Variety Selection and Variability of Potato (SolanumTuberosum L.) Varieties At Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. A thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
7. Yamane, T. 1967. Statistics, an introductory analysis, 2nd Edition. New York: Harper and Row. BirukSeifu, 2013. The Assessment Of Root Crops Contributionto Household Food Security: The Case OfSoddoZuria Woreda, Wolaita Zone, SNNPR,Ethiopia. A Thesis Submitted tothe Center for Food Security, Addis Ababa UniversityAddis Ababa, Ethiopia.
8. Agajie, T., Bedane, K., Yirga, C. and Woldegiorgis, G., 2008. Potato socioeconomics and technology transfer. Root and tuber crops: The untapped resources.