FACTORS INFLUENCING SMALLHOLDER DAIRY FARMERS’ ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION IN ADA’A WOREDA, EAST SHOA ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Dairy production is an integral part of rural livelihoods in Ethiopia in general and in Ada’a woreda in particular. Farming households in the study area produce milk for both generating income and own production. But lack of information related to dairy production and marketing is one of the major challenges for this smallholder farmers. Understanding the reasons behind such problem and dairy farmers’ current information accessibility is paramount importance. This study was conducted in Ada’a woreda, Eas Shewa, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The objectives of this study were to identify factors that affect access to dairy information, sources of agricultural information and to identify the constraints and opportunities in accessing agricultural information by smallholder dairy farmers. A three-stage sampling procedure was employed in which both non-probability sampling for the study area and probability sampling procedures were followed to select the three kebele and 136 respondents. Household survey was used to gather information from sample respondents. Apart from this, key informants interview, and focus groups discussions were held. The survey result showed that 81 (59.55%) and 55 (40.45%) of sample farmers were who access to dairy information and who had no access to dairy information respectively. The result of the econometric model indicated that, sex, education level, social participation, extension contact, credit access, age of household head and innovation proneness had influenced access to dairy information. The study revealed that most of the smallholder dairy farmers 82.3% preferred DAs as their source of agricultural information regarding dairy farming while the least 13.23% used source was NGOs. The most constraint that impedes dairy farmers from access to dairy information was low education level whereas the least constraint that impedes dairy farmers in accessing dairy information was lack of interest. Some of opportunities to access agricultural information where the study area were the presence of dairy related co-operatives and NGOs, presence of research center and impute supplier, presence of FTC in all kebeles, establishment of private and public dairy institutions. In conclusion, policy and development interventions in the study area should give emphasis to resolve such constraints and to use opportunities effectively to boost agricultural information accessibility which will ultimately increase the productivity and income of smallholder dairy farmers