Economic literature is quite thin on the issue of continued use of an agricultural technology after it is adopted. Using a bivariate probit with sample selection model approach, this study provides insights into the key factors associated with the adoption of improved maize seed and its continued use in Central Ethiopia The results reveal that human capital (adult workers, off-farm work and experience in hiring labour), asset endowment (size of land owned), institutional and policy variables (access to credit, membership in cooperatives) all strongly influence farmers' decisions to adopt improved maize varieties, while continuous use of the seed after adoption is detennined by the share of maize area in the cultivated area, literacy of the household head, involvement in off-farm work, visits by extension agents, farmers' experience, household land size, and fertilizer usage. Accordingly, policies and interventions that inform on such factors are required to accelerate adoption and continued use of improved maize seeds in order to increase farm yields and fight food poverty and insecurity in a more effective and more sustainable manner.

Socioeconomics Program|Global Maize Program

Text in English

INT2923|INT1320

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection