Training at farmers training centers and its impact on crop productivity and households’ income in Ethiopia: A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis

The creation and expansion of training and extension networks for rural households are indispensable to develop and improve skills and to increase productivity and income-generating capabilities. In this line, Ethiopia has established farmers/pastoralists training centers (F/PTCs) since 2002 aimed at providing a multitude of services to farmers at the grassroots level. One of these services is the provision of training. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to assess the impact of training on crop productivity and households’ income in the study area. Cross-sectional data were collected from April to June 2020 from 362 and 373 sample respondents involved in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and maize (Zea mays) production in the 2018/19 main cropping season, respectively. The mixed-methods research approach was used for the study. The quantitative data were collected through a semi-structured interview schedule from the respondents. The qualitative data were also collected by interviewing key informants and conducting focus group discussions. The propensity score matching (PSM) model was applied to analyze the impact of training on the aforesaid outcome variables. About 87% of the sample households were engaged in both wheat and maize production in the study area. The PSM results found indicate that trainees increased their wheat and maize yield by 860.16 (26.66%) and 301.56 (10.10%) kg ha-1, respectively. They also earned a net annual income of 7,490 (19.64%) Ethiopian birr ha-1 from wheat production.