Examining access and impact of agricultural extension services on crop yield in Farta Woreda, Ethiopia, using endogenous switching regression model

Abstract This study investigates the access to and impact of agricultural extension services on crop yield among smallholder farmers in Farta Woreda, Ethiopia. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding the factors influencing farmers’ access to extension services and evaluates the overall benefits of these services on crop production. Using a multi-stage stratified simple random sampling technique, data were collected from 356 rural households and analyzed using descriptive statistics and an endogenous switching regression (ESR) model. Results from the selection equation of the ESR model revealed that off-farm income, credit access, livestock ownership, mobile phone ownership, and membership in farmer associations as key determinants of access to agricultural extension services. The findings also revealed significant differences between extension service receivers and non-receivers, with the former achieving 12.27% higher yields. The study highlights that households receiving extension services produced an average of 0.6 quintal (ATT) more crop yield per hectare than they would have without the services, while non-receivers could have achieved approximately 28% (ATU) higher yields had they participated in extension programs. These results emphasize the transformative role of extension services in enhancing farm productivity and call for policy interventions to strengthen farmer associations, integrate financial literacy training, and promote inclusive extension service delivery. By addressing these issues, policymakers can improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia and similar contexts.