Assessing the Impact of Agricultural Information Utilization on Wheat Productivity of Smallholder Farmers: Evidence From Northwest Ethiopia

Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia face significant challenges in accessing reliable agricultural information due to limited extension services, inadequate infrastructure, low literacy levels, and restricted access to digital tools. These barriers negatively impact farm productivity. This study investigates the effect of agricultural information utilization on wheat productivity in the East Gojjam Zone of the Amhara Region. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 403 wheat-producing households. To address potential selection bias, a propensity score matching (PSM) model was applied, incorporating variables such as farmer mobility, access to extension services, availability of farm inputs, proximity to markets, and exposure to electronic media. The findings reveal that farmers who accessed and effectively used agricultural information achieved an average wheat yield increase of 19.675% per hectare compared to nonusers. This result underscores the crucial role of information access in improving productivity, particularly when supported by better mobility, strong extension services, reliable input supply, market accessibility, and media connectivity. Based on these insights, the study recommends strengthening the agricultural extension system, improving input supply chains, enhancing rural market infrastructure, expanding access to electronic media, and promoting cooperative-based information dissemination as key strategies to support sustainable agricultural development in Ethiopia.