The impacts of cash crop production on socio-economic status of producers in bunno bedele zone, western Ethiopia

The study was designed to assess the impacts of producing cash crops on socio-economic status of producers. The major objectives of this study is to assess the impact of producing cash crops on producers in terms of education, food security and ability to finance. A random sample of 205 producers were selected using multistage random sampling from the study area. Multiple regression Models, Logistic regression models, test hypothesis: Z- test, t - test and coefficients of determination methods of data analysis were used in this study. Comparisons were made between producers and non-producers as well as food security and insecurity using the Z- test and regression analysis. This study defines producers as those who produce cash crop (coffee and chat). If the producer not produces coffee and chat, he/she is considered as non-producer. To assess the impact of producing cash crops on the educational status of the family, the ratio of children in schools to the total number of school aged children in the family, expressed as percentage. The status of food security of the households' family was also seen in terms of the frequency of feeding the children and the adult. The percentage of farmers having corrugated iron sheet roofed houses, the percentage of farmers having separate kitchens other than their living rooms for cooking and the percentage of farmers having separate structure for livestock other than the living room were used to assess the impact of cash products on the housing conditions of the producers. It was found that producers of cash crops are better off than the non producers in terms of sending children to elementary school, housing conditions and ability to finance their families’ food requirements. The impact of father’s education, number of children and livestock ownership on the improvements in the livelihoods of the farmers and the problems facing the producers were also emphasized. After all analysis, it can be concluded that production of cash crop products enables the producers to send children to school, have improved housing conditions, and food secured than the non-producers. Finally, the results were recommended as creating the awareness about the uses of education, business awareness and advising the producers and non-producers of cash crop products.