Economics of Work Motivation: Empirical Study of Agricultural Extension Workers in Western Ethiopia

In the agricultural sector, the success of the extension services’ delivery is directly proportional to extension agents’ level of commitment and work motivation. This article analyzed factors determining the level of development agents’ work motivation in the western part of Ethiopia. Respondents were selected randomly and work motivation; which is the dependent variable was ordered from lower level of motivation to higher level of motivation. The ordered logistic regression result revealed that interpersonal relationship, work itself, distance from residence, salary sufficiency, career opportunity, recognitions, personal life and job security were the most important factors in determining work motivation. Therefore, in the process of agricultural transformation, the government of Ethiopia, who is the sole implementer of agricultural extension system in the country, should be able to design appropriate mechanisms to address these determinants of work motivation so as to boost the motivational level and individual commitment among the extension workers.