Improved maize technology adoption and its intensity among male- and female-headed households in Dawuro zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract Both male- and female-headed farm households grow maize in Ethiopia. However, little is known about the difference between male- and female-headed households in the adoption of high-yielding technologies for maize. This study examines the difference between male- and female-headed households in their decision to adopt and the intensity of adoption of improved maize technologies in Dawuro zone, Southwestern Ethiopia. The study uses primary data collected in 2018 from 560 maize-producing households in Dawuro zone, Ethiopia. As the female-headed households are not homogenous, this study separately assessed gender differences in improved maize technology adoption between de facto female-headed households and de jure female-headed households. The results show that the intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties (IMVs) and chemical fertilizers on plots managed by male-headed households is statistically different from those managed by female-headed households. The intensity of adoption of IMVs and chemical fertilizers by female-headed household is lower compared to male-headed households. As economic status is a key driver of the adoption of IMVs and fertilizer application, it is recommended that the policies and programs that aim at developing and disseminating quality maize seeds and fertilizers in Dawuro zone should support economically poor female-headed households, particularly, de jure female heads.