WOLAITA SODO UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

THE CONTRIBUTION OF ADOPTING FERTILIZER TO IMPROVE

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY: IN CASE OF ENEBISE SAR MIDIR WOREDA

THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS IN

PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ECONOMICS.

BY: ENDASHAW ANDARGIE

ID; CBE/R/010/10

ADVISOR: YONAS Y (Msc)

December, 2019

Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia

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 Contents
CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 1

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................. 1

1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ............................................................................................ 3

1.3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS ........................................................................................................ 4

1.4. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY................................................................................................... 4

1.4.1. General Objective ................................................................................ 4

1.4.2. Specific objective .................................................................................. 4

1.5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................. 4

1.6. SCOPE OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................................... 4

1.7. ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER TWO: ................................................................................................................................................. 6

LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................................................... 6

2.1. THEORETICAL LITERATURE ................................................................................................ 6

2.1.1. Definition of agriculture ....................................................................... 6

2.1.2 Agricultural Productivity ...................................................................... 7

2.1.3. Role of Agriculture in Economic Development .................................... 7

2.1.4. Definition of fertilizer ........................................................................... 8

2.1.5. How to Apply Chemical Fertilizer? .................................................... 11

2.1.6. Economic Importance and Demand for Fertilizer ............................. 11

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 2.1.7. Historical Review of Fertilizer in Ethiopia ........................................ 13

2.1.8. Contribution of fertilizer to cereal production ................................... 13

2.2. EMPIRICAL LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................... 14

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................................................ 16

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................................ 16

3.1. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA ................................................................................... 16

3.2. DATA SOURCE AND TYPE .................................................................................................. 16

3.3. INSTRUMENT OF DATA COLLECTION ................................................................................ 16

3.4. SAMPLING METHOD AND SAMPLE SIZE ............................................................................ 17

3.5. METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS ......................................................................................... 18

3.6. PROPOSED BUDGET ........................................................................................................... 18

3.7. TIME SCHEDULE ................................................................................................................ 19

Referense ………………………………………………………………………………............................20

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the Study

Large areas in Africa are increasing becoming marginal for agricultural and arable land has
become scare in African countries, This make the need for intensification of land use through use
of productivity enhancing technologies such as fertilizer critical for achieving food security. Yet
her rate of increase in fertilizer use has substantially lower in Africa than the Asia and Latin
America (Bye lee, 2007).

In Africa agriculture is a strong option for spurring growth overcoming poverty and enhancing
food security. Agricultural productivity though the introduction and use of improve agricultural
technology (World Bank 2008).

In Ethiopia agriculture is the largest economic sector that employs more than 84% and
contributes 40% of the gross domestic product and almost 90% of goods export. However, its
productivity is very low. Ethiopia also faces several food shortages within the past decades. One
major reason for poor agricultural productivity is the lowest rate of adoption of improved
agricultural production technologies (CSA, 2015).

Ethiopia the country which uses organic fertilizer started strives for agricultural productivity
during the imperial period. It was airing this period that government started to adopt different
technological input such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides to enhance agricultural
productivity (Befekadu, 2005).

Ethiopia also adopted agricultural transformation agency one of the mandates of Ethiopian
agricultural transformation agency is to build capacity in Ethiopia by introducing new
technologies to farmer. Using updated techniques by providing them with the knowledge needed
to increase their crop yields (Flicker, 2016).

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Agriculture Technology has the potential to improve the livelihood of farmer in developing
countries by increasing productivity of land and labor. However, the amount of fertilizer applied
by farmers in Ethiopia is below the recommended level and has not resulted in until the 1990,s in
Ethiopian economy (Belay, 2003).

December, 2019The economic growth strategy formulated by Ethiopian government, the second
growth and transformation plan places very high priority on increasing agricultural productivity
to achieve food security and poverty alleviation. The core goal of this strategy is to increase
agricultural productivity through the use of improved agricultural technology among farmers.

The economy of Amhara national regional state highly depends on agriculture and majority of
the population gains its livelihood or in directly from agricultural production. Eventhough the
implementation of the agricultural extension program have been registered in terms of
productivity increase. Most rural household are major sever food shortage though out the year
due to severe land degradation and food soil fertility in the region. Enebise Sar Midir Woreda is
one of the Amhara national regional states which are located in eastern Gojjam zone and practice
agricultural activities.
Agriculture is the main economic source of Enebise Sre Midir woreda and approximately 95% of
population directly or indirectly depends on the livelihood on the sector. In this woreda most
farming households farm both crops and livestock. The most crops grown in Enebise Sar Midir
woreda are wheat, teff and barley. However, access to irrigation for the majority of household is
limited. Farmers use organic fertilizers, and those who are able to afford chemical fertilizer use
DAP and Urea to improve soil fertility. In the study area some determinants makes low
production of agricultural output.
From the factor, the house hold head of the woreda use traditional method of farming, minimum
use of modern inputs and improved seed, and other factors hinder the production of agriculture.
Therefore, this study emphasizes on the contribution of adopting fertilizer to improve
agricultural productivity in Enebise Sar Midir Woreda.

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 1.2. Statement of the Problem
At the present the challenges of Ethiopia is to produce sufficient food for its growing population
as agriculture is vulnerable to natural hazards like drought. Since 1970s the distribution of inputs
like fertilizer were directed to high potential areas. This approach generally focused on areas
which receive relatively good climate condition and middle and rich farmers who owned
relatively fertile land. The farmers fail to benefit from the program (Admass and Adenew 2008).

Economic theories score that technical changes are a corner stone to increase agricultural
productivity lead to finding the self-sufficiently food security. The rapid population growth and
the consequent scarcity of reliable land accompanied by the declining of soil fertility purchase
and consumption, but the consumption per hectares for bellow the recommended rate.

Traditionally managed agriculture is the main source of food and income for small holder which
results in food insecure household eastern Gojjam zone, northern Ethiopia to improve the
productivity and production of the traditional agriculture, the adoption of fertilizer that is
technological invention has been introduced and does success full promoted and distributed
among small holder farmer in eastern Gojjam Enebise Sar Midir Woreda.

The following researchers studies aims at assessing the socio economic, human capital and
institutional factors that affect the amount of fertilizers used by farmers. Even though some
fertilize user studies were conducted in Ethiopia (Gebreyesus, 2006) and (Kebede, 2007).

Enebise Sar Midir Woreda is one of food insecure areas in Amhara regional state. This may be
due to low utilization of fertilizer that increases agricultural productivity. The previous studies
did not give type of crop, and access for crop yield response of fertilizer use. The researcher will
try to fulfill this research gap and to show the role of fertilizer adoption by farmers of Enebise
Sar Midir. Therefore, the assessment of the contribution of adopting fertilizer in the study area
will solve the half solution for the problem of productivity and food insecurity in the area.

The above problems initiate the researcher to focus the study on the contribution of fertilizer will
adopt by fertilizer and to assess the problem that associated with the adoption of fertilizer on
their land.

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 1.3. Research questions
a) Does fertilizer have a contribution to improve productivity or not?
b) When do they decide to use chemical fertilizer? Why?
c) What is the problem regarding the usage of fertilizer on their land?

1.4. Objective of the Study

1.4.1. General Objective
The general objective of the study is to assess the contribution of adopting different organic and
chemical fertilizers in improving agricultural productivity.

1.4.2. Specific objective

a) To investigate the contribution of the adoption of different type of fertilizer (urea and
dap) to farmers’ productivity.
b) To identify the decision of farmers regarding the use of chemical fertilizer.
c) To assess the problems regarding the usage of fertilizer on their land.

1.5. Significance of the Study

This study provides information on the contribution of adopting fertilizer in improving
agricultural productivity. It also provides awareness to the farmers about the use of fertilizer to
improve their productivity. Additionally, it helps the emphasis of the government on the
distribution of the fertilizer for the farmer and it serves as reference for other studies interested
on the related area is the importance of the study on this topic.

1.6. Scope of the Study

The researcher focused on the contribution of adopting fertilizer to improve agricultural
productivity. Due to time and resource exist of the study are limited to Enebise Sar Midir
Woreda which contain36kebele with an area of 52027.8 kilometer square with the cultivated area
of 10523 km.

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 1.7. Organization of the Study
The paper is composed of three chapters. The first chapter deals with introduction part including
background of the study, statement of the problem, research question, objective of the study,
significance of the study, scope of the study and organization of the paper. The second chapter
deals with review of literature, the third chapter deals with the research methodology.

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 CHAPTER TWO:

LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Theoretical Literature
2.1.1. Definition of agriculture
Agriculture or farming is the simplification of nature’s food webs and the rechanneling of energy
for human, planting and animal consumption, to simplify agriculture in values redirecting
nature’s natural flow of the food web. The natural flow of the food web is the sun provides food
for carnivores (meat eating animals) and the growing of both plants and animals for human needs
(Abellanosa and pava, 2003).

Agriculture is the science and art of cultivating the soil, growing and harvesting crops, and
raising livestock. Agriculture is the use of Science or practice of large-scale soil cultivation. It
implies the cultivation of the soil, the production and harvesting of crops the core and breeding
of lives rock (Rubenstein, 2003).

Agriculture is the use of science or practice of large –scale soil cultivation. It is the deliberate
effort to modify a portion of earth’s surface through the cultivation of crops and the raising of
livestock for substance or economic gain (Rubenstein, 2003).

A. Subsistence farming: it is mainly producing food crop for house hold consumption and
characterized by small scale farming, dependent on rain fall, use human and animal power rather
than mechanized equipment, utilize limited chemical fertilizer, improved seeds and other modern
input. It also characterized by high risk and uncertainty; the main motivating force in the
peasants' life may be maximization of his family's chances of survival and use traditional and
out-date tools.

B. Modern or commercial crop farming: which involves large field, large quantity of modern
inputs and advanced technology, capital-intensive and market, oriented production to maximize
financial income technological progress and scientific research and development play a major
role in stimulating higher level of output (Rubenstein, 2003).

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 2.1.2 Agricultural Productivity
Productivity is the ratio of output or product to an input or group of inputs. Frequently used
productivity measures in agricultural sector are yield of crop per unit of land, out gut per animal
or output per worker. Such productivity measures may be for a specific time period. The
appropriate measures of agricultural productivity depend up on objectives of the measurements.
Core must have taken in interpreting yield per unit of land or output per worker. A compression
of crop yield across either space or time does not indicates weather the land with the highest
yield use more than one in put land to produce a crop or not. The output from particular piece of
land will depend on what another input are used within the land (Oxfam volume II, 1995).

2.1.3. Role of Agriculture in Economic Development

Despite early emphasis on indoctrination three import substitution, a first major lesson of
pastoral experience was that there is a close connection between the rate of growth in the output
of Agricultural sector and general rate economic growth. The high rate of economic growth
associated with rapid expansion of Agricultural output and low rates of economy's growth with
the slow growth of agriculture. Since agriculture forms a large part of the total domestic products
and of the exports of the developing countries. Agriculture development is important because it
raises the income of the people in the country side in addition it increases the size of the domes
tice market for the manufacturing sector and reduces internal economic disparities between the
urban centers and the rural districts (visor ,2006).

Agriculture has to make net transfer of factors of production out of the agricultural sector as the
process of structural transformation takes place. And usually the farm provides foreign exchange,
public private investment resources and labor to the more rapidly expanding sector of the
economy as well as increase supply of food and raw materials and support a growing urban
population and manufacturing sector (Bongeretal, 2004).

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Agriculture is a fundamental instrument for sustainable development, poverty alleviation and
enhanced food security in developing countries. It is vital development tools for achieving the
millennium development goals (MDG),is one of which to have the share of people suffering
from extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 and in Africa agriculture is an option for spurring
growth, overcoming poverty, and improving food security(WB,2008).

2.1.4. Definition of fertilizer

Any of large number of organic or synthetic materials including manure and nitrogen phosphorus
and potassium compounds, spread on worked together in to soil to increase its capacity to
support plant growth is called fertilizer. Fertilizer is any organic or in organic material of natural
or synthetic origin (other than limiting factor) that is added to soil to supply one or more plant
nutrients essential to the growth of plants is fertilizer (Cooke, 2004).

Fertilizers are substances, which are added to the soil to supplement the soil with those
elements required in the nutrition of plants. That means, any material organic or inorganic,
natural or synthetic, that furnishes to plants one or more of the chemical elements necessary for
normal growth is fertilizer (Berhanu, 2002).

Fertilizer is a material that furnishes one or more of the chemical elements necessary for the
proper development and growth of plants. The most important fertilizers are fertilizer products
(also called chemical or inorganic fertilizers), organic manures, and plant residues (Hart and
McNeil an, 2000).

According to central statistical report 2000 fertilizer refers to subsistence that is added to soil and
intended to increase the amount of plant nutrient available for crops growth. In this survey two
types of fertilizer (natural chemical) are enumerated. The natural fertilizer consists of the form
yield manure and wood ashes while the chemical types of (ammonium phosphate) or UREA
(ammonium nutrient) and improve seed is a crop variety with gives a significantly high yield and
late quality compared to locally produced variety of seed. Pesticide are a chemical that are useful
for the control mitigation or elimination of pests which are detrimental to crop. Pesticides
include insecticide and herbicides.

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According to the world book (Anon, 20thcentury) fertilizer is substance that is added to soil to
help plant grow. Farmer uses various kinds of fertilizer to help produce abundant crops. Fertilizer
contain nutrient that are essential for plant growth some fertilizer are made from organic waste
such as manure and sewage, other manufacture from certain mineral or are produce as synthetic
compound in factories.

According to the book soil fertility management fertilizer can be defined as a mind or
manufactured material containing one or more essential plant nutrient. The suitable mineral
available in fertilizer can be rock phosphate, nitrogen, (N) and potassium (K).

Conservative estimates report 30 to 50% of crop yields are attributed to natural or synthetic
commercial fertilizer. European fertilizer market is expected to growth to Yoro IS.3billion by
2018 milled in organic fertilizers have been used for many countries, whereas chemically
synthesized organic fertilizers were only widely developed during the industrial revolution.
Increased understanding and use of fertilizers were important parts of pre-industrial British
agricultural revolution and the industrial green revolution of the 20th century. Inorganic
fertilizers use has also significantly supported global population growth; it has been estimated
that almost have of the people on the earth are currently fed as a result of synthetic nitrogen
fertilizer use. A fertilizer is essentially, blended moisture of one or more organic or inorganic
compounds or chemicals needed by the plants for enhanced and nourished growth. Based on
these constituent components, fertilizers have been divided into following categories. (Berhanu,
2000).

A. Organic fertilizers

Constitute of decayed or particular decayed organic material which is to a great extent bio-
degradable. It includes animal dung (waste) and other green manure or also any natural elements
which adds to the human content of soil which decompose the matter releasing the nutrients and
thus making is soul able and ready to be taken by the plants certain examples of organic
fertilizers are compost manure, fish and bone meal etc. (Xiasong, 2003).

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B. Inorganic fertilizer

Inorganic fertilizers are usually simple chemical compounds made in a factory or obtained by
mining, which supply plant nutrients and are not residues of plant or animal life (Cooke,2004).
Broadly speaking, any chemical compound used for supplying one or more of the essential
plant -food elements are chemical fertilizer (McVickar, 1998).

All fertilizer materials that might be presented on the fertilizer market and that are sold within
the same trade are called commercial fertilizers (Collings, 1995).

A chemical fertilizer is a material produced by industrial process with the specific purpose of
being used as a fertilizer. They are salts and Salts are chemical compounds that contain one
positively charged ion (cat ion) bonded to one negatively charged ion (anion). When a salt is
placed into water, the two ions separate and dissolve. An example of a fertilizer salt is calcium
nitrate, which contains one calcium cat ion and a nitrate anion (Hart and McNeil an, 2000)

In general, chemical fertilizers are inorganic or synthetic materials of a concentrated nature.

They contain one or more plant nutrients in easily soluble and quickly available forms
(Berhanu, 2005).

A chemical fertilizers is known as inorganic fertilizer when its constituents are originated
through synthetic means making them non degradable. To sustain reliable and hastened growth,
these fertilizers are manufactured keeping in mind the natural element needed by plants for
health and communion growth. They contain one or more of the essential growth nutrient such as
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and vary others. Once added to the soil, these nutrient full fill
the required demands of the plants and provided them nutrients they naturally lacked of help
them to the last nutrient.

The suitable quantities ensure a well formulated action on the plant growth in the estimated time
various other factors are also kept in mind while using these fertilizers. These factors include the
type of crop, growing condition, soil texture, season etc.

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Listed below are a few of the most prominently used chemical fertilizers

 Anhydrous ammonia a gas which contains 82% nitrogen

 Urea: A solid compound containing 44% nitrogen gas
 Super phosphate proportioned amounts of nitrogen & phosphate
 Di ammonium phosphate contains 18% nitrogen and 45% phosphate (Xiasong, 2013)

2.1.5. How to Apply Chemical Fertilizer?

As these constitute of several measured quantizes, therefore it is essential to keep in mind that
the correct procedure of applying fertilizers so that not even a little amount goes wasted and also
to ensure tint sufficient quantities reach the roots the plants the following are a few tips that can
be taken care of:

a) Spread the fertilizer over the soil surface or apply it while plowing the land to enable it to
go underground & get deeply dissolved in the soil.
b) Apply it when the seed will be sound or spread it once the plants sprout up and repeat the
same procedure twice before harvesting (Bantayehu, 2001).

2.1.6. Economic Importance and Demand for Fertilizer

Agricultural inputs are like seed, fertilizer, pesticides improved farm tools etc. Supply in line
with efficient extension services would lead to ensure enhanced production and productivity.

One of the major importance's that have contributed to the development of an economically
successful agriculture in developing countries is improving the poor soil fertilizer for crop
production. Agricultural production can of course, be boosted by increasing inputs and / or by
introducing modern agricultural technology. That means agricultural growth based on continuous
increase in yield requires technological change (CSA, 2004).

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Fertilizer use increases land productivity through yield increase and easers the nutrient constraint
to multiple cropping and land development programs. As a result, it relaxes the land constraint,
since the yield increase is proportionately more than the corresponding incremental labor
Applied, fertilizer use increases labor productivity, as fertilizer production, Distribution and
consumption increase, backward and forward linkages create additional employment, which is
extremely important in labor surplus countries. In general agriculture output can be increased
through the expansion of cultivable land area or through improving the productivity of the
available land. One of the crucial inputs to increase the productivity of land is fertilizer
(WB,2007).

However, most of the growth in agricultural production in less developed countries over the last
forty years has been due to area expansion and not to yield increase. Consequently, grazing land
and considerable forestland have been put under cultivation and has resulted in environmental
degradation Promotion of fertilizer usage, including the use of governmental subsidies, can be
expected to have multiple benefits: growth in agricultural output, increased national food
security, increased income in the rural sector, maintenance of soil fertility and structure and the
limitation of soil erosion and deforestation as the pressure to utilize more fragile ecosystems is
reduced (Mohammed et al., 2005 ).

The introduction HYV of various crops, the possibilities of increasing farm yield and profit with
intensive use of fertilizers has become financially feasible. That means fertilizer is one of the
most critical inputs in farming. It can bring about a rapid increase in agricultural production even
in the short run, which is the dire need of a developing county. The provision of the fertilizer is
one of the essential factors, which plays a great role in improving agricultural productivity,
particularly due to the use of fertilizer. In line with this, the use of inorganic fertilizer has also a
significant effect even on the local crop varieties in which their responses to fertilizer are
generalize believed to be low (Teresa and Heidues,2014).

The wise usage of fertilizer is one of the best investments a farmer can make. That means, with
efficient use of fertilizer, the farmer expects a higher return on each unit of money spent on
fertilizer (McVickar, 1998).

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 2.1.7. Historical Review of Fertilizer in Ethiopia
An increase in use of fertilizer bring above an increase in the yield crop and hence income to the
farmer. To this has been stated an increase use of fertilizer is essential because the rapidly
declining soil fertility as well as while drought constitute the biggest threat to production in way
parts of the country the problem due to declining of soil fertilizer is increasingly getting worse
(Malati; 2004).

Before introduction of fertilizer in the country in 1966 the Ethiopian government requested the
united nation to launch a fertilizer program in Ethiopia. FAO started the fertilizer program
which is known as FFH(Freedom from hunger) the objective of the program was to introduce the
use of chemical fertilizer to the majority of small scale farmers through the following three year
of sample fertilizer demonstration (1997- 1969) on major crops the country was embarked a
program of fertilizer distribution an efficient fertilizer marketing and credit system recognized as
essential for increasing fertilizer use in developing country and fertilizer marketing is designed to
help all person or institution involved in fertilizer distribution in those country (Wierej, 1998;
66). In case of Ethiopia introducing and usage of fertilizer in small scale farm is very recent
phenomenon when demand for fertilizer continued to raise become char that it was necessary
that to establish on organization that could handle fertilizer supply and credit work on a country
basis.

2.1.8. Contribution of fertilizer to cereal production

Commercial fertilizer is necessary to maintain global crop productivity in current level and will
be more crucial if yields are to be increase in many countries fertilizer in adequate an
unbalanced. Which limits the expression of yield potential and negatively impact crop quality
even if the biotechnology industry can deliver their promise to increase crop yield through
genetics and improve nutrient uptake efficiency fertilizer is critical to avoid depletion of soil
nutrient and ensure soil quality.

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It's difficult to determine exactly how much crop yield is due to the use of commercial fertilizer
because of inherent soil fertility, climate condition crop rotation
management and crop it. Some crops (e.g. legumes) are not responsive to fertilizer and crop
differs in their nutrients requirement.

Nevertheless, meaningful estimates of the contribution of commercial fertilizer crop yield have
been made using omission trials and long term study comparing yield of unfertilized control to
yield with fertilizer. Stewartetal (2003) reviewed data representing 362 reasons of crop
production is reported at least 30% to50% of crop yield can be attributed to commercial fertilizer
imputes (EEA, 2006).

2.2. Empirical Literature Review

Bye lee (2007) states that, fertilizer is the critical input for improving production technology and
increasing crop yield. Over the past 25 years’ chemical fertilizers have been the primary means
of enhancing soil fertility in small farm agriculture (bye lee 2007). Researcher and policy makers
widely recognize the importance of fertilizer in accelerating the growth of food production in
SSA ( Bump 1988] Melloretal, 1987].

Give the fertilizer first functional priority for accelerating food production in the region; they
suggest that even with existing technologies a 15% annual growth rate in fertilizer consumption
in both possible and of great potential significance. Slightly more than half of fertilizer is used on
cereal, particular maize. Although the area of the two important cereals millet and sorghum] is
also large. Very little of this area is fertilized and when its application rate is low (Garner and
Harris 2004). General fertilizer use has shifted from cash crop to cereals, particularly maize over
the past 20 years (Heisay and Mwangi, 2015).

14
As Abdullatif K., (2012) stated the most effective production factors for increasing food supply
and reducing poverty are the use of HYV seeds and improved seeds along with the application of
appropriate fertilizers. His finding shows that HYV seeds and fertilizers would increase cereal
production by 70% with appropriate extension service. He concludes that the increase in cereal
production is the consequence of the intensive use of fertilizers by the farmers during the
periods. From 1980 to 1998 fertilizer use varied from about 3.2 mega tone million to 3.8 million
mega tone or 0.96 annual percent increase in fertilizer use over the period under review. While
fertilizer use in Africa remained almost unchanged in the last 20 years’ cereal production
increased at a high rate of 3.3 annual rate of increase in comparison to the previous rate of 2.8%
during the previous two decided.

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 CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY

3.1. Description of the Study Area

Enebise Sar Midir Woreda is found in Amhara regional state in eastern zone which lies between
2624 meter above sea level (masl) and found the distance between 190 kilometer from
Debremarkos zone capital and the 184 kilometer from Bahirdar regional administration state and
far from the center of the administrative city (Addis Ababa) is 365 kilometers. In this distinct
there are 34 rural kebele and 2 town kebele. The current population for this Woreda is 133855. It
has rugged topography with altitude between the variation of traditional agro climate such as
degas win degas and kola .the southern part of this Woreda is characterized by degas. Most of
the northern and central part of this area is win degas and the northern parts of the tip have kola
(annual in finance and development office 2007).

3.2. Data Source and Type

The data sources that will use in the study area are both primary and secondary data source. The
primary sources of for this study will the reliable information directly obtained from the
respondents through questionnaire and direct interview of farm households among the target
population. The researcher will used structured questionnaires which includes both open ended
and close ended questions and directly interviewing the development agents of selected kebele.
The secondary data source includes unpublished and published materials like books, articles,
bulletins, newspapers and written documents of Woreda agricultural offices.

3.3. Instrument of Data Collection

The prepared questionnaires with series of open ended and close ended questionnaires and
interview will used to collect primary data. By preparing questionnaires and ask the farmers
(farm house holds) these going to be taken as a sample from the total population under the study.

16
 3.4. Sampling Method and Sample Size
The sampling method that the researcher used in the study area to select the respondents simple
random sampling techniques. The researcher use simple random sampling for it allows an
individual of target population to have an equal chance to be included in the respondents and for
it is free from personal bias.

To minimize cost, time, as well as unnecessary effort of the researcher, only two (2) kebele
selected randomly based on ecological zone from 36kebele. These randomly selected kebele are
total target population is 7875 Yibisana target population is 7625 Wonbiya kebele respectively.
The total size of the sample will determine by using the following sample size determination
formula, (Cochran’s, 1963).

n= z2 (p (1-p))/e2

Where n= sample size

z= confidence interval (0.95) =1.96

e= level of precision

p= the ratio of total number of HHS of the selected kebele to total number of HHS of the woreda.
Therefore,

p=15500/133855=0.11579694445

Where 15500 = sum of the households of 2 randomly selected kebele

133855=the total number of HHs of the Woreda

n= 1.962(0.11579694445(1-0.11579694445)/0.0025

n= 1.962(0.11579694445(0.88420305555)/0.0025

n= 0.20088527975/0.0025=80

From above sample size take 41 respondent from Yibisana kebele and 39 respondents from
Wonbiya kebele totally 80 respondents.

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 3.5. Methods of Data Analysis
After relevant data will collect properly by using questionnaire and interview, descriptive data
analysis use and the result of the data present using table, figure Graph, percentage and
frequency. This method of analysis intensively employed in order to simplify and understand of
its interpretation.

3.6. Proposed Budget

There are some costs that will be incurred to undertake this study. The researcher estimate the
following minimum cost per item.

Items Quantity Duration Unit cost Total cost

days per
quantity
Telephone 30 00 30 00
expense
Flash disk 1 180 00 180 00

Print 55 Piece 2 00 110 00

Pen 1piece 10 00 10 00
Pencil 1piece 5 00 5 00
Binder 2 00 00
Photocopy 20pages 0.60 00 12 00
Transport cost 1 900 00 900 00
Total cost 00 1,127

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 3.7. Time schedule
The following work plan is designed for the successful completions of the study with in available
time.
No Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
activity
1. Title selection 

2. Literature       
finding
3. Proposal 
development
4. Data 
collection
5. Data analysis  

6. Report   
writing
7. Presentation 

8. Contact with         
advisor

19
 REFERENCE

Abellanosa, A.L, and H.M, Pave, 2003. Introduction to crop Science, Central MindanaUniversity, Mutual, Bukidnon:
Publications Office. p. 238).

Befikadu, D,& Dr.Berhanu, N, 2005.Annual report on the Ethiopian economy.vol I.

BekeleTilahun, 1995.Rural Credit in Ethiopia, Ethiopia Agricultural problem of Transformation

BerhanuAlemu, 2006.Quality and Standard Authority of Ethiopia, An overview on fertilizer

Quality Control

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