Factors Affecting Improved Potato Production in Central Ethiopia: Evidence from Duna District

Abstract

Improved potato production plays a vital role in improving agricultural production and yield enhancing policy in central Ethiopia, particularly in the Duna district. Improved potato is a globally produced cash crop and it accounts for fourth place in the world yield. Improved potato yield is key crop in improving potato growers’ income, and nutritional status. In the agriculture, improved potato is an essential means to leave poverty and food insecurity for many cultivators. Despite the district's better environment and good yield enhancing condition for improved potato, the production is meager. Hence, this research investigates factors affecting improved potato production in central Ethiopia, using data from 189 respondents in the 2022/23 main potato growing season in the Duna district. Both primary and secondary data were used for the data analysis. Descriptive and binary logit methods were applied in this study. The findings of the logit model indicated education, age, off-farm activity, access to land, livestock holding, household soil fertility, fertilizer use, use of credit, access to extension service, provision of improved seed, and the distance to market were important factors influencing improved potato production. The results show that improved potato production at the household level reduces rural farm households’ food insecurity and poverty due to improving the income of improved potato growers. Therefore, the agricultural sector should give a vital role and attention to improved potato production. This is the key option to boost improved potato production in the study district.