DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION TECHNOLOGY OF DAIRY CATTLE: THE CASE OF BEDELE WOREDA OF BUNO BEDELE ZONE OF OROMIA REGION OF ETHIOPIA

Artificial insemination technology of dairy cattle is a popular technology to improve the performance of new breeds. But, the adoption and utilization of the technology by dairy cattle owners in Ethiopia in general and study area in particular is very low. This study was conducted in Bedele Woreda of Buno Bedele zone of Oromia National Regional State with the aim of assessing determinants of adoption decision and intensity use of artificial insemination technology of dairy cattle. This study used cross sectional data which was collected from a total of 174 farm households which were randomly and proportionally selected from 4kebeles of the Woreda using two stage sampling technique. The primary data were collected through individual interviews of respondents using semi-structure questionnaire. Secondary data was collected from different relevant literatures such as Woreda reports, publications, journals and other documents relevant for the study. Descriptive statistics and Econometric model were used to assess the collected data. The result of Descriptive statistics indicated that about 36.78% and 63.22% of respondents were adopters and non-adopters of artificial insemination of dairy cattle respectively. The results from probit regression of double hurdle model revealed that education level, non-farm income, landholding size, experience in utilizing artificial insemination technology, amount of credit obtained and extension contact positively and significantly affected the probability of adoption decision of artificial insemination technology of dairy cattle. Whereas sex, age, distance from extension center and dependency ratio are negatively and significantly affected the probability of adoption decision of artificial insemination technology of dairy cattle. The truncated regression result of double hurdle model asserts that Education level of household heads, landholding size, experience in utilizing artificial insemination technology; amount of credit obtained and extension contact affected the intensity of use of artificial insemination technology positively and significantly. While, age and distance from extension center were negatively and significantly affected the intensity of use of artificial insemination technology of dairy cattle. Therefore, attention should be given to major factors that affect adoption decision and intensity use of artificial insemination technology by Woreda livestock and fishery development office to increase production and productivity of dairy sector