Adoption and Impact of Wheat Row Planting Practice on Yield of Smallholder’s Farmers in Arsi and West Arsi Zones, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Wheat row planting has been promoted in Ethiopia as an improved agronomic practice to enhance productivity and resource-use efficiency. However, its adoption and impact remain limited among smallholder farmers in the study area. This study assessed the adoption intensity, determinants, and impact of wheat row planting on yield among smallholder farmers. Utilizing both primary and secondary data, a multistage sampling technique was employed. Data collected via semi-structured questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an adoption index, and an endogenous switching regression model. The results indicated that adoption of wheat row planting remains moderate, with 39.6% of farmers adopting the practice to varying degrees as low, medium, and high levels. The adoption decision was positively influenced by cultivated land size, livestock ownership, access to improved seed, frequency of extension contact, participation in training, labor availability, and fertilizer use, whereas market distance had a negative effect. Impact analysis revealed that adopters achieved a 13% higher wheat yield than if they had not adopted, while non-adopters could potentially increase yield by about 9.7% through adoption. Therefore, wheat row planting significantly improves productivity among smallholder farmers. Policymakers and researchers should strengthen extension and training services, ensure timely access to improved inputs, and promote labor-saving technologies to enhance adoption and maximize the practice’s impact in the study area.