Technology Adoption in Smallholder Dairy Systems

This presentation analyzes factors affecting technology adoption in smallholder dairy production
systems using a combination of frameworks and mixed methods: agricultural household models and agricultural innovation systems approach and a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings show that low adoption of technologies stems from farmers' limited resource endowments, lack of reliable supply chains for inputs and outputs and inadequate institutional and policy support to the livestock sector. Therefore, policy  interventions for dairy development need to be directed towards eliminating a broad range of policy, legal, regulatory and administrative obstacles deterring smallholders and agribusinesses from investing in agricultural technologies. 

Presenter: Kebebe Ergano is an Ethiopian development researcher with international experience. He was awarded a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Wageningen University, Netherlands in 2015 with a special focus on modeling agricultural technology adoption and impact evaluation, He also holds an MSc in Agricultural Economics (minor Statistics) and a B.Sc. in Agriculture. He has over 17 years of experience in research for development and teaching in Ethiopian and international higher learning/research institutions. Currently, he is working as a researcher in the Ethiopian Environment and Forestry Research Institute based in Addis Ababa. Previously, he worked as a research officer at the International Livestock Research Institute (2008- 2013) and as a lecturer at Hawassa University (2000-2008). Early in his career, he worked as an agricultural development expert at district level in the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture.