Sheep Market Participation of Rural Households in Western Ethiopia

Sheep production is an integral part of the subsistence crop-livestock based livelihoods on the Ethiopian highlands and plays a crucial role in economic development and poverty reduction. The study analyzed determinants of intensity of market participation of smallholder sheep keepers in Western Ethiopia. Data were generated from the rural households in their villages in Horro-Guduruu, Western Ethiopia. Poisson model was employed to examine factors determining the level of sheep keepers' market participation. The empirical result of the estimation shows that flock size, family Size, educational background, experience access to market information and access to veterinary service are decisive factors determining the household's level of market participation. This study identifies the need to expand services to sheep producers, and capacity for their delivery. It also magnifies essential changes in management of production and marketing at farm level in order to generate higher and sustainable income for sheep producers in the region.