Determinants of Pastoral Communities for Adoption of Forage Production Technology in Yabello Rangeland, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The pastoral rangelands of Ethiopia are located around the peripheral or the outer edge of the country, almost surrounding the central highland mass. Livestock in Ethiopia is dependent primarily on native grasslands and crop residues. Forage production has been regarded as one of the suitable strategies for increasing feed availability for enhanced livestock production among pastoralist communities in the rangeland of Yabello and currently, forage degradation has been pointed out as the most limiting factor for livestock production in the Yabello rangeland area. There are factors determining adoption of these practices and it vary with different socio-demographical issues within the pastoral household. This study was therefore conducted to assess the socio-economic and demographic factors influencing households’ participation in forage production in Yabello rangeland of Southern Ethiopia. Data was collected from 210 households and 6 extension workers in total from 216 interviewers through interviews using semi-structured questionnaire. Results indicate that gender of household head, education, social/development group membership and access to extension services were the most important factors influencing households’ participation in forage production. There is need for technical support to the pastoralist households towards starting and/or joining existing social groups, through which extension and training services aimed at enhancing forage production in the Yabello range land can be offered.