The review of literature on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency in Ethiopia. Farmers produce farm products at low technical efficiency. Low technical efficiency occurs due to the increase in the number of plots. Different findings on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency by farmers resulted in contrary findings (negative and positive). In the current study in the direction of effect estimation, in this research work, meta-analysis has been done for finding the result on 4 studies selected based on PRISMA criteria. Based on the random effect model, the result indicated that land fragmentation puts the technical inefficiency of malt barely farmers at a disadvantage, but if the effect is not strong enough, it affects their technical efficiency. Furthermore, the subgroup analysis also found the differential effects of land fragmentation on different farmers. The influence of first two study are strong, whereas that of remain two study are weak. So, fewer fragments ought to be provided to all farmers, mainly to the first two study farmers, to increase productivity and the status of food security among farmers.
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
. It contributes 4% of the whole global economic output. Furthermore, it is the one that provides jobs to one billion people worldwide, raw material source for industries and performs a very essential function in controlling the world environmental situation
[13]
Teague, R., & Kreuter, U. (2020). Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4(September), 1-13.
. In sub-Saharan African countries, it is predominantly controlled by smallholder producers who possess minimal or no modern agricultural practices and related technology
[7]
Kinyili, B. and E. Ndunda (2022). Adoption of Sustainable Agroforestry Practices in Sub Saharan Africa_ Book Chapter in Research Trends in Forestry Science: 01-29.
Ethiopia, being the origin of many cereal crops, is also thought to be the center of origin of barley, and due to this, there are many local barley cultivars which are well adapted to environmental conditions of the country
[3]
Edao, A., Ameda, T., & Gidey, G. (2021). Technical Efficiency of Malt Barley Production in Malga District of Southern Ethiopia. 2021.
. Malt barley production is a sub-sector in Ethiopia that has been one of the most developed sub-sectors in recent years due to the commitment of multinational breweries to address their malt requirement by providing it from local production
[1]
Bezabeh Ali, A., Beyene, F., Mohammed, J., & Tefera, T. (2020). Impact of contract farming on income of smallholder malt barley farmers in Arsi and West Arsi zones of Oromia region, Ethiopia. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 6.
. However, among the factors contributing to low malt barley production in Ethiopia are lack of improved variety, reduced inputs, land fragmentation and reduced research findings on the production practices
[4]
Getahun, W. and E. Geta (2016). "Technical efficiency of smallholder wheat farmers: The case of Welmera district, Central Oromia, Ethiopia." Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics 8: 39-51.
Where there is land fragmentation, farmers will spend additional money to travel from farm to farm, plow fragmented plots, manage work in the different plots and haul farming equipment
[6]
Kawasaki, K. (2010). The costs and benefits of land fragmentation of rice farms in Japan. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 54, 509-526.
. The research indicates a negative impact of land fragmentation on agricultural productivity
[5]
Kakwagh, V., Aderonmu, J., & Ikwuba, A. (2011). Land fragmentation and agricultural development in tivland of Benue State, Nigeria. Current Research Journal of Social Sciences, 3(2), 54-58.
[5]
. Land fragmentation is shown to hinder productivity in several aspects. Disconnection of ownership of land can potentially increase transport costs at a very fast rate, and management, monitoring and security of fragmented land could be more time-consuming, complicated and costly
[10]
Musaibah, N., Isaac Kazaara, A., Deus, T., Ruth, N., & Gracious Kaazara, A. (2023). The Organizational Factors Affecting Employee Performance in Non-Govern Organizations in Uganda A case study of the Uanda Women Parliamentary Association.
. Small disconnection farms could also make cultivation of some crops more difficult and restrict farmers from venturing into very high-margin crops; thus, if farmers possess small plots of land, they could be forced to plant less profitable crops
[2]
Birthal, P. S., Hazrana, J., & Saxena, R. (2022). Investigating the impact of information on the efficiency of smallholder dairy production systems in India and the lessons for livestock extension policy. Agricultural Economics Research Review, 35(2).
In Ethiopia most of the results on the effect of land fragmentation on technical inefficient of malt barely production were mixed results (positive or negative). Therefore, the paper is prepared to discover the direction of the effect of land fragmentation on the technical inefficient of malt barely production by integrating the existing findings of different research studies conducted in Ethiopia. To accomplish the study purpose Meta-analysis is used. This approach was adopted because it removes the problem of subjectivity and produces statistically abstract results. The result of this paper will be to offer important information for policymakers, land fragmentation experts and agricultural officers who are concerned with enhancing the progress of the farmers in the country. Moreover, up to date in Ethiopia except for narrative research studies, no empirical statistical study has been conducted that evaluates the effect of land fragmentation on technical inefficiency of malt barely production. The outcome of this study is, therefore, significant to redirect the line of land fragmentation system and examine the current performance of the land fragmentation in the country. Policy makers may use this finding as an input for developing future agricultural policy within the country.
2. Methods
In this review, PRISMA (Referred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) was used in selecting articles to include in Meta-analysis. PRISMA statement includes 27 items Checklist
[8]
Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, et al (2009): The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration. PLoS Med 2009, 6(7): e1000100.
and a four-phase flow Figure 1 below. The relevance of the studies reviewed was confirmed based on their topic, abstracts, objectives, and methodology. In accordance with this, some of the articles were eliminated as they were not pertinent to current study objectives. For others, all the content of the articles was selected based on the independent (Land Fragmentation) and dependent variables (Technical inefficient of Malt barely production) under investigation.
Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram to select studies for the systematic review & meta-analysis in Ethiopia.
Evidence for this meta-analysis was gathered through electronic web-based searching. The major databases that were searched were Advanced Google Scholar, Science direct and AGRIS databases to retrieve articles dealing with the issue in question. These databases were searched since they index a huge majority of the peer reviewed literature, which is a quality control measure. The following combinations of words were used during literature searching: "agricultural land fragmentation" OR "Land fragmentation" AND "technical efficiency of malt barely production" OR "relationship of land fragmentation and technical efficiency" AND "impact of fragmentation on crop production" AND "Ethiopia".
Since there was a policy change in agriculture in the district after 2018, only cross-sectional data and observational studies, all such papers published after 2018 were chosen. only English language articles were chosen. Using exclusion criteria, i.e., review articles, duplication of studies, studies conducted outside of Country, studies with incomplete data and measurement of the variable (Land Fragmentation) and were not included in the analysis process to ensure methodological consistency across each study.
The pertinent data was extracted from each original study by using the format prepared in STATA version 17 software for meta-analysis. For the data extraction criteria, the type of product, statistical analysis used by the researcher, type of variable, unit of analysis, study period, and study design were used. Heterogeneity among the original studies was checked by using the I2 test statistics and Galbraith plot. The overall effect was expressed in terms of beta coefficient. Publication bias was tested using funnel plot asymmetry and statistical significance test by Egger linear correlation under random effects model. The random effect model was used for this study since there is heterogeneity in the provision of land fragmentation for technical inefficient of malt barely produce. The random effect model is expressed as:
lnYi=α+ lnβXi+εiand εi=vi-ui
Where, Yi= Technical inefficient of malt barely production for each study i
α= Constant term showing individual effect
Xi= land fragmentation for each study i
εi = Error term
vi = The symmetric component
Ui = asymmetric error component
Table 1. List of four studies to be included in Meta analysis on effect land fragmentation on technical inefficiency of malt barely production, Ethiopia.
S/n
Authors name
Publication year
Study design
Model used
Outcome
1
Mersha et al.,2017
2017
Cross-sectional study
Cobb-Douglas production function
Technical inefficient of malt barely production
2
Edao et al., 2021
2021
Cross-sectional study
//
//
3
Wollie et al.,2018
2018
Cross-sectional study
//
//
4
Paul et al., 2017
2017
Cross-sectional study
//
//
3. Result of Review
3.1. Identification of Articles
As shown in Figure 1 above, 257 records of the review topic were identified in the initial step out of which 242 were rejected in the initial screening because their titles have no bearing on the review topic and found to be irrelevant. The remaining 15 records and abstracts were retrieved and screened. But 9 were excluded since the abstracts were not relevant according to the exposure and outcome variables. Because the abstracts were not found to be relevant according to the exposure and outcome variables. Therefore, 6 full text articles were retrieved and evaluated for eligibility. At this level 2 article were also excluded. Articles were not considered based on data extraction issues and different cases of unity and year of publication. Total four Articles were included for meta-analysis. All four included and available articles were from a representative of Ethiopia.
3.2. The Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficient of Malt Barely Production
The overall result indicated that farmers with more land plots were technologically inefficient in malt, barely production by 0.57, compared to farmers with few land plots. The output of the model indicated the values of I2 of 31.58%, p = 0.28. This indicated that there was low-level observed heterogeneity among studies. This heterogeneity is due to variation within study, as different types of producers are being encompassed in the study. The weight for every study included in this study was allocated based on individual study effect size. In this, the allocated weight for
[9]
Mersha, A., Yirga, C., & Mohammed, J. (2017). DETERMINANTS OF MALT BARLEY TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN THE CASE OF OROMIA, ETHIOPIA.
Wollie, G., Seifu, L., & Tegegne, B. (2018). Economic efficiency of smallholder farmers in barley production in Meket district, Ethiopia. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 10, 328-338.
Paul, M., & wa Gĩthĩnji, M. (2018). Small farms, smaller plots: land size, fragmentation, and productivity in Ethiopia. Journal of Peasant Studies, 45(4), 757-775.
were 42.38%, 34.10%, 5.90% and 17.62% respectively. Therefore, the research that has high weight (42.38% and 34.10%) has high effect size (Figure 2 below).
Figure 2. Forest plot and random effect model using Coefficient as effect size measurement.
As shown on Figure 3 below, the additional test of I2 is Galbraith plot, it was used to observe heterogeneity among studies. The result of Galbraith plot also shows us low-level observed heterogeneity, because all studies lied within the confidence bounds.
Figure 3. Galbraith plot for heterogeneity of the included studies.
3.3. Publication Bias Diagnostic Test
Figure 4 publication bias, represented was confirmed using asymmetry of funnel plot observation to confirm this in consideration of the funnel plot, left side three studies and right tide one studies of the funnel plot; therefore, the plot is asymmetry, it indicates publication bias. The finding of funnel plot reporting publication bias among the studies.
Table 2 below showed the Egger test result, it also showed publication bias. The test result showed negative insignificant bias with coefficient = -0.73, p=0.699. Small-study effects, small sample sizes, model assumptions which is a form of publication bias is an occurrence in which small studies sometimes report larger treatment effects than larger effects.
Table 2. Egger test for small study effect.
Regress standard normal deviate of intervention effect estimate against its standard error Number of studies = 4 Root MSE = 1.3132
Figure 4. Publication bias funnel plot for studies.
4. Discussions
Ethiopia has the highest potential malt barely cropping yield. This potential crop incorporation of land fragmentation, it made malt barely producers a recently new. The meta-analysis result indicates that those farmers have higher numbers of plots raise the technical inefficient of malt barely production by 0.57, as compared to the farmers who have a smaller number of plots. This finding is in line with the results of
[15]
Wollie, G., Seifu, L., & Tegegne, B. (2018). Economic efficiency of smallholder farmers in barley production in Meket district, Ethiopia. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 10, 328-338.
Paul, M., & wa Gĩthĩnji, M. (2018). Small farms, smaller plots: land size, fragmentation, and productivity in Ethiopia. Journal of Peasant Studies, 45(4), 757-775.
, in which their finding implies that there is potential production of malt barely in the country, therefore, if attention is given to the land fragmentation and efficiency of malt barley production, it will improve productivity and efficiency of farmers.
In the analysis, a low level of heterogeneity (I2 = 31.58) among the studies was identified. Therefore, the fixed effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect. And the result presence of publication bias. These may have been underestimating the real effect of land fragmentation on technical inefficient of malt barely production. Therefore, the findings of this meta-analysis would be best explained in the context of both original research and the current analysis.
5. Conclusion and Recommendations
The result of Meta-analysis was realized when the combined effect on technical inefficient of malt barely production brought about by land fragmentation intervention is 0.57. However, in Ethiopia, land fragmentation effect on improving malt barely production is not strong. And the result of heterogeneity (I2 = 31.58) suggest low among the studies were realized. The increased number of plots positively affect technical inefficiency of malt barley production. Therefore, this should exist of number of plots to increase technical inefficiency. Hence, the land policy that favors consolidated land holding increases the efficiency and productivity of farmers.
Abbreviations
AGRIS
International System for Agricultural Science and Technology
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
PRISMA
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Author Contributions
Adane Edao: Formal Analysis, Methodology, Software, Writing - original draft
Bezabeh Ali, A., Beyene, F., Mohammed, J., & Tefera, T. (2020). Impact of contract farming on income of smallholder malt barley farmers in Arsi and West Arsi zones of Oromia region, Ethiopia. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 6.
Birthal, P. S., Hazrana, J., & Saxena, R. (2022). Investigating the impact of information on the efficiency of smallholder dairy production systems in India and the lessons for livestock extension policy. Agricultural Economics Research Review, 35(2).
Getahun, W. and E. Geta (2016). "Technical efficiency of smallholder wheat farmers: The case of Welmera district, Central Oromia, Ethiopia." Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics 8: 39-51.
Kakwagh, V., Aderonmu, J., & Ikwuba, A. (2011). Land fragmentation and agricultural development in tivland of Benue State, Nigeria. Current Research Journal of Social Sciences, 3(2), 54-58.
[6]
Kawasaki, K. (2010). The costs and benefits of land fragmentation of rice farms in Japan. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 54, 509-526.
Kinyili, B. and E. Ndunda (2022). Adoption of Sustainable Agroforestry Practices in Sub Saharan Africa_ Book Chapter in Research Trends in Forestry Science: 01-29.
Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, et al (2009): The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration. PLoS Med 2009, 6(7): e1000100.
Musaibah, N., Isaac Kazaara, A., Deus, T., Ruth, N., & Gracious Kaazara, A. (2023). The Organizational Factors Affecting Employee Performance in Non-Govern Organizations in Uganda A case study of the Uanda Women Parliamentary Association.
Paul, M., & wa Gĩthĩnji, M. (2018). Small farms, smaller plots: land size, fragmentation, and productivity in Ethiopia. Journal of Peasant Studies, 45(4), 757-775.
Teague, R., & Kreuter, U. (2020). Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Services. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4(September), 1-13.
Wollie, G., Seifu, L., & Tegegne, B. (2018). Economic efficiency of smallholder farmers in barley production in Meket district, Ethiopia. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 10, 328-338.
Adane Edao, Alihasen Yacob. (2025). Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis. Innovation, 6(3), 73-78. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
Adane Edao; Alihasen Yacob. Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis. Innovation. 2025, 6(3), 73-78. doi: 10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
Adane Edao, Alihasen Yacob. Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis. Innovation. 2025;6(3):73-78. doi: 10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
@article{10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14,
author = {Adane Edao and Alihasen Yacob},
title = {Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis
},
journal = {Innovation},
volume = {6},
number = {3},
pages = {73-78},
doi = {10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.innov.20250603.14},
abstract = {The review of literature on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency in Ethiopia. Farmers produce farm products at low technical efficiency. Low technical efficiency occurs due to the increase in the number of plots. Different findings on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency by farmers resulted in contrary findings (negative and positive). In the current study in the direction of effect estimation, in this research work, meta-analysis has been done for finding the result on 4 studies selected based on PRISMA criteria. Based on the random effect model, the result indicated that land fragmentation puts the technical inefficiency of malt barely farmers at a disadvantage, but if the effect is not strong enough, it affects their technical efficiency. Furthermore, the subgroup analysis also found the differential effects of land fragmentation on different farmers. The influence of first two study are strong, whereas that of remain two study are weak. So, fewer fragments ought to be provided to all farmers, mainly to the first two study farmers, to increase productivity and the status of food security among farmers.},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis
AU - Adane Edao
AU - Alihasen Yacob
Y1 - 2025/08/12
PY - 2025
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
DO - 10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
T2 - Innovation
JF - Innovation
JO - Innovation
SP - 73
EP - 78
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2994-7138
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
AB - The review of literature on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency in Ethiopia. Farmers produce farm products at low technical efficiency. Low technical efficiency occurs due to the increase in the number of plots. Different findings on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency by farmers resulted in contrary findings (negative and positive). In the current study in the direction of effect estimation, in this research work, meta-analysis has been done for finding the result on 4 studies selected based on PRISMA criteria. Based on the random effect model, the result indicated that land fragmentation puts the technical inefficiency of malt barely farmers at a disadvantage, but if the effect is not strong enough, it affects their technical efficiency. Furthermore, the subgroup analysis also found the differential effects of land fragmentation on different farmers. The influence of first two study are strong, whereas that of remain two study are weak. So, fewer fragments ought to be provided to all farmers, mainly to the first two study farmers, to increase productivity and the status of food security among farmers.
VL - 6
IS - 3
ER -
Adane Edao, Alihasen Yacob. (2025). Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis. Innovation, 6(3), 73-78. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
Adane Edao; Alihasen Yacob. Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis. Innovation. 2025, 6(3), 73-78. doi: 10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
Adane Edao, Alihasen Yacob. Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis. Innovation. 2025;6(3):73-78. doi: 10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
@article{10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14,
author = {Adane Edao and Alihasen Yacob},
title = {Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis
},
journal = {Innovation},
volume = {6},
number = {3},
pages = {73-78},
doi = {10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.innov.20250603.14},
abstract = {The review of literature on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency in Ethiopia. Farmers produce farm products at low technical efficiency. Low technical efficiency occurs due to the increase in the number of plots. Different findings on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency by farmers resulted in contrary findings (negative and positive). In the current study in the direction of effect estimation, in this research work, meta-analysis has been done for finding the result on 4 studies selected based on PRISMA criteria. Based on the random effect model, the result indicated that land fragmentation puts the technical inefficiency of malt barely farmers at a disadvantage, but if the effect is not strong enough, it affects their technical efficiency. Furthermore, the subgroup analysis also found the differential effects of land fragmentation on different farmers. The influence of first two study are strong, whereas that of remain two study are weak. So, fewer fragments ought to be provided to all farmers, mainly to the first two study farmers, to increase productivity and the status of food security among farmers.},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of Land Fragmentation on Technical Inefficiency of Malt Barely Production in Ethiopia: Meta-analysis
AU - Adane Edao
AU - Alihasen Yacob
Y1 - 2025/08/12
PY - 2025
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
DO - 10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
T2 - Innovation
JF - Innovation
JO - Innovation
SP - 73
EP - 78
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2994-7138
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.innov.20250603.14
AB - The review of literature on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency in Ethiopia. Farmers produce farm products at low technical efficiency. Low technical efficiency occurs due to the increase in the number of plots. Different findings on the impact of land fragmentation on malt barley production technical inefficiency by farmers resulted in contrary findings (negative and positive). In the current study in the direction of effect estimation, in this research work, meta-analysis has been done for finding the result on 4 studies selected based on PRISMA criteria. Based on the random effect model, the result indicated that land fragmentation puts the technical inefficiency of malt barely farmers at a disadvantage, but if the effect is not strong enough, it affects their technical efficiency. Furthermore, the subgroup analysis also found the differential effects of land fragmentation on different farmers. The influence of first two study are strong, whereas that of remain two study are weak. So, fewer fragments ought to be provided to all farmers, mainly to the first two study farmers, to increase productivity and the status of food security among farmers.
VL - 6
IS - 3
ER -
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