Smallholders' Conservation Agriculture Adoption Decision in Arba Minch and Derashe Districts of Southwestern Ethiopia

This study examines smallholder farmers’ conservation agriculture (CA) adoption decisions from a soil management perspective in two semiarid areas of southwestern Ethiopia. The analysis was based on survey 392 household heads each the mixed maize/sorghum/teff + Moringa stenopetala Derashe district and maize/teff banana fruit tree Arba Minch Zuriya farming systems. Two groups smallholders that practice different land management, i.e., conventional tillage, were selected. A binary logistic regression model used to answer question factors determine smallholders’ initial decision adopt CA. Nine explanatory variables including age head, level formal education, family size, size total landholding hectares, livestock owned tropical unit, experience, net income annual perennial crops, provided extension service by development agents, lack access small-scale irrigation included analysis. result revealed nonpracticing have higher schooling, farmland holding, relative CA-practicing households. Households with increasing age, per annum less likely However, CA practicing high an increase irrigation. Though Targa-na-Potayta mulching technique is age-old area, impact has indispensable benefits extending knowledge younger smallholders.