41 Agricultural Science Research Journal ISSN 2026-6073 Alemayehu Keba et al., Volume (10) Issue (2): 41 – 54 February – 2020. RESEARCH PAPER Factor affecting adoption and intensity of use of improved maize varieties: The case of Kiremu District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia *Alemayehu Keba 1 , Adeba Gemechu Gobena (PhD) 2 , Admassu Tesso (PhD) 3 1 Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research, Asosa Agricultural Research Centre 2 Department of Agriculture Economics and Agribusiness Management, Jimma University 3 ASARECA, Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer Theme, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia E-mail: adebagemechu@yahoo.com 2 , admassutesso@gmail.com 3 *Corresponding Author’s E-mail:alemayehukeba@gmail.com 1 Corresponding Author Alemayehu Keba Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research, Asosa Agricultural Research Centre *Corresponding Author's Email: alemayehukeba@gmail.com 1 Abstract Improving agricultural productivity and improving smallholder farmers’ income requires increased efforts in influencing farmer to use yield enhancing technologies like improved maize varieties. It is from this ground the need to analyses the factors that influence the adoption and intensity of use of improved maize varieties. sampling procedure was employed to select the target households. In the first stage, out of 19 kebeles in Kiremu district three kebeles were selected using simple random sampling. Secondly, stratified random sampling method was employed to identify sample households. Finally, sample of adopters and non-adopters were selected by using simple random sampling. Structured instrumental questionnaire was developed, pre- tested and used for collecting data from 189 randomly selected households. Descriptive statistics and double hurdle model were employed to analyse data. Results of descriptive analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences between adopter and non-adopter households with family size, education, and distance to market, number of oxen, farm income, livestock owned and frequency of extension contact. Similarly, Double hurdle model results showed that improved maize varieties adoption decision of farm households has positively and significantly determined by education, family size, farm income, livestock owned, number of oxen and frequency of extension contact and intensity of use of adoption of improved maize varieties also positively and significantly determined by education, farm income, number of oxen, membership of farmers’ cooperative union and livestock owned. It is therefore recommended that government and other development organizations should create a favourable environment like strengthening farmers’ knowledge on modern agriculture production throughout strengthening of the extension services, creating awareness on the advantage of being the membership of farmers’ cooperatives union and giving more attention to farmers’ priorities and needs. Key Words: Adoption, Intensity, Improved Maize Varieties, Double Hurdle Model, Ethiopia Introduction As the world’s population is expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050, the production of food, mainly staple crops is expected to increase accordingly, especially for the 870 million people who are currently food (IFC, 2013). This suggests that the dominant role of agriculture as the primary source of food and employment creation in the