Profitability analysis of bread wheat technology demonstration on lime-treated soils using a cluster approach in selected areas of the east Gojjam zone, northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Access to improved varieties and soil acidity problems are the growing and significant hindering factors for the production and productivity of wheat in Ethiopia. The activity was conducted to enhance farmers’ awareness, knowledge and skills on wheat production under lime treated soils and improve the household’s income and accessibility for improved technologies in the study areas. Aneded, Awabel, Basoliben, Debre Elias and Gozamin districts were selected purposively based on wheat production potential and the prevalence of soil acidity. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using appropriate data collection tools. A total of 712 smallholder farmers participated and 10 wheat clusters were formed. The data were collected from the cluster farming participants the smallholder farmers. Simple descriptive and inferential analysis methods were deployed. The study revealed that producing wheat under lime treated soils through a cluster approach has a significant yield advantage over the traditional production system.  Additionally, the profitability analysis results revealed that the marginal rate of return and marginal net benefit from wheat production under lime treated soils were significantly high over three consecutive years. Therefore, the demonstration of improved wheat variety under lime treated soils using cluster approach should be encouraged and scaled up to reach more smallholder farmers in unaddressed areas with similar climatic condition across the country to boost production and productivity, increase household income and reduce food insecurity among smallholder farmers.