This study examined the economic benefits of higher education in Ethiopia. It utilized a quantitative research approach. The study revealed that the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for secondary and higher education is 1.97 and 1.84 respectively. This implies that both levels of education provide benefits outweighing their costs. Regarding the private…

This study aims to evaluate the impact of training on the use of modern agricultural inputs in comparison to the recommended amount for wheat and maize production in Gozamin and Machakil Woredas in Northwest Ethiopia. The study employs a mixed-methods research design. The propensity score matching and thematic methods of analysis were used to…

Low yield/hectare gains, food insecurity and environmental unsustainability are challenges experienced by the agriculture sector in Ethiopia despite substantial government investment. Although there are many factors that contribute to the poor performance of the sector, smallholder farmer competence gaps are principal among them. This study aims…

This study assesses the determinants of farmers' participation in training at Farmers' Training Centres (FTCs) in Northwest Ethiopia. It employed a mixed-methods research approach. The binary logistic regression and thematic methods of analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The study reveals that years…

Purpose: Agricultural extension services in poor countries often identify opinion leaders based on criteria such as wealth and social status. We explore the effectiveness of this top-down approach by analysing the role of so-called model and nodal farmers in the diffusion of malt barley in a highland community in Ethiopia. Research approach: We…

Purpose: Enhancing the relevance of rural extension services requires aligning extension education to the roles, tasks, activities and competencies of smallholder farmers. The objective of this study is to follow up on previous competence studies and to construct a validated competence framework. Design/Methodology/Approach: Competence frameworks…

Purpose: The article examines the implementation and effects of the model farmer-based approach of farmer-to-farmer extension delivery that is in use in Ethiopia. Methodology: The study used mixed methods, combining focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and a household survey. Findings: The model farmer approach has increased…

The study examined the relationship between child labour participation and household wealth (in terms of livestock and cropland) considering representative sample smallholders from four (Kurfa Chelie, Kersa, Fedis, and Melka Bello) districts in eastern Hararghe Zone of Oromia regional state of Ethiopia. The descriptive statics showed that average…

Purpose: This paper analyses research strategies followed by farmer groups in Tigray, that were involved in participatory experimentation. Understanding choices made by farmers in such experimentation processes is important to understand reasons why farmers in Tigray often hesitated to adopt recommended practices. Design/Methodology/Approach: A…

Purpose: The limited uptake of improved agricultural practices in Africa raise questions on the functionality of current agricultural research systems. Our purpose is to explore the capacity for local innovation within the research systems of Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using Conservation Agriculture (CA) as a…

Purpose: We examine the impact of advice given by extension agents to Ethiopian farmers, as perceived by the farmers themselves. Design/methodology/approach: Using survey data from 2014, we analyze the perceived impact of advice on farmers' incomes and crop yields. We use a bootstrapped instrumental variable (IV) estimator and the conditional…

Purpose: Ethiopia operates a large agricultural extension service system. However, access to extension-related knowledge, technologies and agricultural inputs is unequally distributed among smallholder farmers. Social learning is widely practiced by most farmers to cope with this unequal distribution though its practices have hardly been…

This study was aimed at marketing chain of sesames in Gimbi Woredas of Oromia Region with specific objectives of identifying marketing channels and factors affecting outlet choice decisions of farm households. The data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data for this study were collected from 127 farmers, 17…

Purpose: To explore why substantial agricultural information gaps persist in African smallholder farming communities and how to reduce them. Design/methodology/approach: Using conservation agriculture (CA) as a case study, we deeply explore with 29 smallholder farmers why they are yet to obtain sufficient information to enable practice evaluation.…

Ethiopian agriculture is characterized by smallholders farming whose access to modern technology and basic education is very limited. Research, extension, education and farmers are the main pillars of agricultural knowledge systems and their effectiveness largely depends on strong linkage among each other. However, the existing…