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Abstract
The literature on commercial transformation of smallholders makes little distinction
between market orientation (production decision based on market signals) and market
participation (sale of output). However, policy implications to enhance commercial
transformation of subsistence agriculture drawn from the analysis of the determinants of
household market participation alone could be inadequate, if in fact, the determinants of
market orientation and market participation are not the same or not consistent with each
other. This paper analyzes the determinants of market orientation and market
participation in Ethiopia separately and examines if market orientation translates into
market participation. Empirical results show that the determinants of market orientation
and market participation in crop output markets are not the same, but market orientation
translates strongly into market participation. Results imply that while interventions to
enhance market orientation could also help in promoting market participation,
interventions to promote market participation may not be adequate to promote market
orientation.