Determinants of potato market participation among smallholder farmers in Mida Kegn, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, agricultural output commercialization plays a crucial role in maintaining the share of the sector in the economic growth of the country. This study was designed to analyze determinants of potato market participation among smallholder farmers in the Mida Kegn district of West Shoa Zone. A stage sampling procedure was employed to select 150 sample respondents randomly from the district. To accomplish the study, data were accessed from both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were accessed through a structured questionnaire. The descriptive result indicated that 38% and 62% of sample households were categorized as non-participant and participant farmers in the potato output market, respectively. Moreover, the result shows that about 54.46% of potato produce was supplied to the market from total produce. The result of the double-hurdle model analysis showed that experience and land allocated for potatoes influenced potato commercialization positively, whereas family size, dependency ratio, and distance to all-weather roads were affected negatively. Consequently, the study suggests that all concerned bodies should focus on facilitating farmers to participate in off/non-farm activities, supporting potato producers through the provision of training and access to improved seed, proper utilization of land resources, and giving enough family planning training by health extension workers.