Technology and managerial gaps in adoption of innovation: the case of Ethiopian wheat farmers

Ashok K. Mishra (), Ganesh Thapa, Khondoker A. Mottaleb and Kindie T. Fantaye
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Ashok K. Mishra: Arizona State University
Ganesh Thapa: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Environmental Analysis and Sustainability
Khondoker A. Mottaleb: Texas Tech University
Kindie T. Fantaye: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Empirical Economics, 2025, vol. 69, issue 1, No 1, 37 pages

Abstract: Abstract This study investigates technology and managerial gaps between Ethiopian farmers growing local (non-adopters) and improved (adopters) wheat varieties using field survey data. The study uses maximum likelihood estimates of the conventional and sample-selection stochastic production frontier and stochastic metafrontier models (HHL and AOS methods) coupled with statistical matching to assess technology and managerial gaps. The ex-post evaluation reveals that farmers who adopted new technology achieved a minimum of 33% higher yields and 60% higher profits than non-adopters. Technical efficiency is consistently higher among adopters of new, improved varieties than those using local varieties. Significant differences in technology and managerial gaps exist between adopters and non-adopters. Furthermore, the study confirmed that farmers who cultivated improved wheat varieties operate more commercialized agricultural farms than their counterparts. Policymakers could provide incentives to improve access to technology, extension services and farm inputs (such as improved wheat seeds, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation) to enhance the adoption of improved wheat varieties.

Keywords: Production technology; Productivity; Stochastic metafrontier; Technical efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C21 Q12 Q16 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s00181-025-02723-2

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