Socioeconomic determinants of crop diversity in Bule Hora Woreda, Southern Ethiopia
Belay Maru, Melesse Maryo, Getahun Kassa
Abstract
Crop diversification on the farm is a useful approach, especially in developing countries, where agriculture is the primary source of income. Crop diversity management on the farm is critical for reducing poverty, increasing farm revenue, creating jobs, and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability by maintaining biodiversity, soil, and water resources. Despite their relevance, several variables are currently affecting farmers' crop production decisions. The purpose of this research was to see how socioeconomic factors influence crop diversification. We chose randomly 84 sample household heads from four kebeles to collect socioeconomic and on-farm data. The Shannon-Wiener index (SWI) and crop species richness were used to assess crop diversity. A multiple stepwise linear regression model was used to evaluate the data. Crop diversity was positively and significantly related to household farm size, animal size and composition, annual income, and the location's altitudinal gradient. A lack of road infrastructure and market connections constrained farmers' crop diversification options. It's vital to connect distant areas with road networks and market ties to promote farm-level crop diversification.