Determinants of Drip Irrigation Technology Adoption in Degua woreda, Tigray Region, Ethiopia: Household Level Analysis

Abstract

This study was conducted in Degua Tembien Woreda. The very objective of this study was to identify and analyze the major determinant factors which affect the adoption of household level drip –irrigation technology which is one of water saving irrigation technologies available in the study area. A total of 110 farmers were randomly selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire and Logit model was used to analyze the data. The model result indicated that 7 out of 13 explanatory variables expected to influence the adoption of drip irrigation found to be significant in the study area. While Variables such as age of household head, literacy, and dependability of water source for irrigation, farmer visit to drip- irrigation demonstration site and backyard land ownership were positively and significantly related with adoption of family drip irrigation technology, Farmland distance to Main road, Home distance to Water point and Fear of theft and damage by wild animals to drip-accessories were negatively and significantly related. The results of this study suggest that presence of well organized demonstration site, train women on the importance and management of the technology, support farmers to develop water for irrigation, , encouraging farmers to cooperate and adopt the technology in farmlands where water is available but distant from homestead and integration among promoters of the technology are recommended to Expedite the diffusion of the technology