Determinant Factors Of Teff Production In Agriculture Sector Of Oromia Regional State: Ethiopia

Abstract

Agriculture is one of the significant sectors in low-income countries like Ethiopia. It is the backbone of an economy to meet the food requirements of its people. It provides sources of employment to the people of the country, and it is a vital contribution to national income. In the African continent, a large number of people depend on the agriculture sector. 85% of the labour force has been working in agriculture, 50% GDP, 90% of total export, and 70% supply of raw material to the country agro-industrial sector from agriculture sector (World Bank, 2011). Teff is a small-grained cereal that was grown as a food crop. Its' cultivating in East Africa for thousands of years (D. Andrea 2008). It is a required food in African countries like Ethiopia and Eritrea. It has been growing specific environmental conditions like from sea level up to 2800 m above sea level, required temperature, rainfall, and soil conditions (Seyfu 1997). In Ethiopia, the average teff grain yield was 1228 kg ha -1. It is expecting 2500 kg ha-1 to improve the production use sophisticated cultivations and management practices (Tefera and Belay 2006). Hence, this study focuses on studying the determining factors of teff production of small farmers in Oromia regional state; investigate various issues and challenges of teff production, to give appropriate suggestions to overcome the problems in teff production of small farmers. The researcher conducted a farmer survey and collected a questionnaire from the respondents. Out of total household heads, the sample size determined 72 from three kebele. It includes 33 samples in Kebele, 23 sample households in Ayala Kebele, and 16 Households in GomboreKebele considered. From their response, required recommendations are to be given to the policymakers to take important decisions for improving teff production in Ethiopia.