The improvement of agricultural productivity using technology is an important avenue for increasing output and reducing poverty in sub-Saharan countries. However, the low adoption of high yield varieties has been identified as one of the main reasons for low productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, the study examined the effect of demographic, socioeconomic and institutional factors affecting adoption and adoption-intensity of improved wheat varieties (IWVs), using data obtained from randomly selected farm households in the Arsi Highland of Ethiopia. We estimated a Double hurdle model to analyze the determinants of the intensity of IWVs adoption, as adoption and use intensity were two independent decisions influenced by different factors. The results also show that Double hurdle model is more appropriate than the Tobit model. Empirical estimates of the first hurdle reveal that wheat farming experience, distance to cooperatives, renting a tractor and combine harvester, Urea application, and net income from the wheat grain sale all significantly increased the likelihood of IWVs adoption. Estimates of the second hurdle revealed that the Bedilu Demissie Zeleke

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This article aims at analyzing the factors that affect urban and peri-urban dairy farmers’ milk market channel choice in the Arsi Highland of Ethiopia. The reason for focusing on milk is because the product is a key dairy product that contributes to dairy households' economic development, employment creation, and a pathway out of poverty. Four milk marketing channels were thoroughly investigated: a) cooperative channel, b) cafeteria/restaurant channel, c) consumer channel, and d) assembler/trader channel. Primary data collected from 259 dairy farmers through a field survey were used to analyze the simultaneous selection of multiple milk marketing channels. A multivariate probit approach was used and showed that market distance, milk production, artificial insemination (AI), market satisfaction, contractual agreement, quality management, cooperative membership, average milk price, number of the dairy cow, and quantity of milk sold affected farmers milk marketing channel choice. The outcome suggests that policies aimed at strengthening the use of well-organized milk cooperative to access appropriate technology; enhancing milk quality management to ensure milk safety along the milk channel; introducing milk quality incentives; promoting vertical coordination through strengthening the existing informal contractual agreement; establishing advanced milk payment system and improving the volume of milk production could enhance the distribution channel of the study area milk marketing particularly, and developing nation generally.

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