Adoption and Impacts of Improved Potato Variety in Highlands of Guji Zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

Background and Objective: Improving the income of smallholder farmers through the introduction of improved technologies has gained increased attention in recent times. The focus now extends beyond the mere development and introduction of farming technologies to enhance production and productivity. This study was conducted in the highland areas of the Guji Zone with the objectives of identifying the extent of adoption, determining the adoption and adoption intensity determinants, and assessing the impact on major adopters of improved Gudane potato varieties in the study area. Materials and Methods: The data were collected from 201 farmers, including 122 adopters (60.7%) and 79 non-adopters (39.3%). Summary statistics and limited dependent models, including Tobit and logistic regression, as well as the treatment effect model of propensity score matching, were used for data analysis. Adoption, adoption intensity, and ATE parameters were estimated along with determinants. Results: Dependency of adoption of Gudane variety on family size, experience, land cost, input cost, farmer type, off-farm income, technology information, and education level variables were observed likewise age, family size, potato production experience, farmer type, technology information, and off-farm income involvements of family member were determinants of adoption of the variety. Gender, age, family size, education level, potato production experience, farmer type, off-farm income, and extension contact were variables that affected adoption intensity. The average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) potato yield of adopters and non-adopters for the 2022 production season has a yield difference of 136.57 qt/ha in favor of the adopters over than non-adopters. Conclusion: Adopters were found to produce more than non-adopters. These results imply that scaling out of Gudane production contributes to farmers’ livelihood improvement through yield and farm income increment in the highland parts of Guji Zone, Southern Oromia.