A Probit Analysis of Determinants of Adoption of Improved Sorghum Technologies Among Farmers in Tanzania
- 13th October, 2021 05:54
- By JULIUS.BUTINDI
- Papers
Author(s) : Thedy Gerald Kimbi1,2, Essegbemon Akpo1,3, Eliud Kongola2 , Chris O. Ojiewo1 , Ronnie Vernooy4 ,
The adoption of improved sorghum technologies by smallholder farmers is still low in Tanzania. Many farmers
fail to acquire quality inputs due to different underlying reasons. This article analyzes factors underlining the
adoption of improved technologies among sorghum farmers in Tanzania and evaluates profitability of grain
production. A total of 212 individual farmers were interviewed through structured questionnaires from nine
districts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, probit regression model and gross margin analysis.
Results show that 39.2%, 26.5%, 16.9%, 8.4% and 7.2% of sorghum farmers adopted seeds of improved
varieties, insecticides, inorganic fertilizers, threshing machine and optimum seed rate, respectively. Probit
estimates indicated that age, sex, number of years in school, group membership, farm size, availability of free
seeds, seed accessibility, grain market accessibility and grain market price were the significant factors
influencing adoption of these technologies. Adopters obtained higher profitability (822,288 Tshs/ha) than
non-adopters (374,363 Tshs/ha) of improved varieties. Further policy actions are needed to improve determinants
of adoption, breeding technologies and accessibility of agricultural inputs to ensure benefits to farmers and the
sorghum sub-sector.
Keywords: profitability, smallholder farmers, seeds of improved varieties, technologies, Tanzania