Factors that Affect the Productivity of Sesame of Smallholder farmers: The Case of Tahtay Adiyabo Woreda, Northwestern Zone, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia.

Abstract

This study analyzed the factors affecting the productivity of sesame among smallholder farmers in Tahtay Adiyabo Woreda, Northwestern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. The main objective was to identify agronomic, socio-economic, and institutional determinants influencing sesame productivity and to provide policy-relevant recommendations for improving output. A mixed research design was employed, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches to enhance data reliability. Primary and secondary data sources were used. The study relied on cross-sectional data collected from 242 smallholder farmers during the 2024/2025 production season through structured questionnaires. A multistage sampling technique was used to select three kebelles, based on their sesame production potential, followed by proportional random sampling of farm households. To analyse the data, descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies, percentages, and standard deviations, and an econometric model, particularly the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimation technique, were used. The econometric analysis utilized an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model grounded on the Cobb–Douglas production function to estimate the determinants of sesame productivity. Descriptive results revealed that the average household head was 46.6 years old with a family size of 5.11, a mean landholding of 4.24 ha, and 13.6 years of farming experience. The mean log of sesame productivity was approximately 13.8 quintals per hectare. The OLS results (R² = 0.511, F = 20.99, p < 0.001) identified land size, market access, extension service, off-farm participation, and pesticide use as statistically significant variables influencing sesame productivity. The results show that variations in productivity across kebelles: Adiaser recorded the highest yield (16.38 quintals/ha), followed by Aditsetser (14.58 quintals/ha), while Ademiti had the lowest (11.45 quintals/ha). The results highlight that productivity gaps are mainly due to uneven institutional support, input access, and market linkages. Overall, the study found that sesame productivity in Tahtay Adiyabo Woreda is constrained by intertwined socio-economic and institutional factors rather than demographic ones. It recommends strengthening agricultural extension services, improving credit accessibility, promoting off-farm income diversification, and investing in market and infrastructure development. Additionally, promoting climate-resilient practices and soil fertility management is crucial to enhancing productivity and sustaining sesame farming.