Archives

• WATER HYACINTH INVASION IN THE RIFT VALLEY LAKES BASIN—AN EMERGING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES: A REVIEW PAPER

  Vol. 3 No. 2 (2021)

  Abstract
  Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) occurs almost throughout wetlands of Africa and poses serious socioeconomic and environmental problems of people in riparian communities, which added constraints on the sluggish development process. This review aims to show the spatial distribution, characteristic and impacts of water hyacinth to initiate urgent policy attention and amelioration mechanisms in Rift Valley Lakes Basin (RVLB). This invasive weed has spread quickly from Amazon to many tropical and sub-tropical countries and known to cause major ecological, environmental, and socioeconomic challenges.

• SELECTING SOLIDWASTE SITES USING INTEGRATED FUZZY LOGIC MODEL AND MULTI CRITERIA APPROACH IN SHASHEMENE TOWN: OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

  Vol. 3 No. 1 (2020)

  Abstract
  Solid waste is unwanted material generated from combined residential, industrial, and commercial activities in a given area. Since landfills are permanent sites, they need special attention in selecting the location by applying an efficient method. This study employed the Fuzzy logic in combination with Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) methods for the selection of solid waste landfill site in Shashemene town. Moreover, the study used multi-criteria decision-making integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) to evaluate solid waste site.

• Informal Economy and Livelihood: Experiences of Women in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia

  Vol. 2 No. 2 (2019)

  Abstract
  This study investigates the nexus between the informal economy and women's livelihood improvement in developing economies like Ethiopia. Women in developing countries in general and in Ethiopian developing economy in particular face multi-dimensional challenges that include economic, political, social and cultural factors which undermine both of their agency and capability. The high incidence of poverty and family responsibility under such circumstances compels them to the informal sector where operations are far from getting policy support. The objective of this research is to investigate the role of the informal economy in improving the livelihood of women in terms of income, employment and reduction of poverty of households led by women operating in the informal sector in Dilla town.

• Morpho-physiological Response of Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) Seedlings to Different Salinity Levels in Sidam National Regional State, Southern Ethiopia

  Vol. 6 No. 1 (2024)

  Salt stress is the most important environmental stress that adversely affects avocado morpho-physiological performance. Therefore, this study has been conducted to evaluate the response of avocado seedlings to different salinity levels. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Design (RCD) with four salt concentration levels (0, 1.3 dS/m, 2.6 dS/m, and 3.9 dS/m) on grafted avocado seedlings, with three replications. The avocado seedlings were raised from Ettinger avocado scion grafted on Guatemalan race rootstock. The results indicate that most of the morphological growth parameters, such as rootstock diameter, sucker development, and root length, were significantly (p<0.01) affected by salt stress level. While tap root diameter and lateral root length were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by salt treatment. Except for the number of suckers developed on the rootstock, rootstock and scion diameter significantly decreased as salt concentrations increased from 0 to 3.9 dS/m. Similarly, significant (p<0.01) variations were also observed in leaf length, bud number, leaf fresh weight and dry weight, leaf area, shoot height, taproot length, and lateral root length. These parameters were also significantly decreased with the increase in salt concentrations. Likewise, photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and instantaneous water use efficiency were significantly affected by salt concentration, where relatively maximum scores were obtained at 0 and 1.3 dS/m. In general, salt concentration at 0 and 1.3 dS/m EC favors most of the growth and physiological performance of avocado seedlings compared to 2.6 and 3.9 dS/m. Thus, the study revealed that for vigorous growth of avocado seedlings at an early stage, the quality of irrigation water needs considerable attention to ensure robust avocado seedling growth.

• Assessing spatial accessibility of bus stops and user satisfaction with transportation services: a case of Dilla Town, South Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia

  Vol. 5 No. 2 (2023)

  Abstract

  Bus stop accessibility is a vital component of a successful transportation system. This study aimed to investigate the network characteristics of bus stop locations and evaluate bus service users’ satisfaction. The road networks were digitized from aerial photographs and the locations of the bus stops were collected by Handheld GPS to assess the accessibility of bus stops. Additionally, an administered questionnaire related to service quality was collected to evaluate the bus transportation service quality provided by Dilla University. Network analysis techniques were employed to analyze the spatial distribution and accessibility of bus stops. The bus stop coverage ratio index was determined from the ideal access coverage and the actual access coverage of bus stops. The SCRI result indicates Getsmart Bus stop has the highest value (0.96), suggesting that it has a high level of functionality for its surrounding area. On the other hand, the bus stop with the lowest value (0.60) is ‘Molla Golja’. The findings of the study highlighted significant variations in bus stop coverage, indicating differences in accessibility among the stops. The questionnaire survey results showed that passengers were not generally satisfied with the bus service. In summary, the network analysis is useful for identifying areas with low accessibility and areas where improvements are needed.The significance of this study extends beyond providing solely to the needs of Dilla University administrators for creating a more efficient and user-friendly transportation system for their workers and the wider community. It is useful for the Dilla Town Administrative Road Transport Office and other organizations seeking to improve transportation systems.

• Talking Plants: Communication and Signaling via Volatiles

  Vol. 2 No. 1 (2019)

  Abstract
  There is an urgent need for new sustainable solutions to support plants in facing current environmental challenges. In particular, strengthening of productivity and food security needs sustainable exploitation of natural resources and metabolites. In this review, we fetch the attention to the agronomic potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from plants, as a natural and eco-friendly solution to defend from stresses and to enhance crop production. Plants defense by emitting volatile organic compounds communicate with herbivore-attacked neighbors to activate defenses before being attacked.

• SITUATION ANALYSIS OF IRREGULAR STEPWISE CROSS-BORDER ETHIOPIAN MIGRANTS IN THE SUDAN IN VIEW OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

  Vol. 4 No. 2 (2022)

  Abstract

  The main objective of this research was to investigate the socioeconomic and human rights status of the irregular cross-border Ethiopian migrants in Sudan. The research targeted identifying key policy lessons that could contribute to the existing endeavors of managing migration and preventing human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. Data were collected through desk reviews, informant interviews, group discussions, and observations. The results show that Ethiopian emigrants in Khartoum have been suffering beginning from their origin, en route, and destination. The most common drivers of the emigrants are found to be an amalgam of socioeconomic, political, and environmental factors as well as pseudo-success-stories of the pioneer migrants. The en route was perilous for the migrants in which they faced physical assault, confinement, mistreatment, sexual abuse, and robbery. At the destination, the emigrants had been suffering from religion-based disparagement, nationality-based stigmatization, restricted mobility, exploitative working conditions, confiscation of resources, sexual abuse, vulnerability to drug dependence, and maltreatment. The mechanism to alleviate the problem is triple: one is expected from Ethiopia, the other from Sudan, and the third is a combined effort. In Ethiopia, enhanced democratic culture, political tolerance, good governance, improved access to legal travel authorization (visa) for safe migration, awareness creation campaigns, enhanced monitoring of the private employment agencies, and increased cooperation among stakeholders are found to be vital solutions to prevent illicit cross-border human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. Sudan is recommended to comply with the international conventions it ratified and the national legal frameworks it enforced regarding human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, and refugee protection. Ethiopia and Sudan have also something great to do together to combat the quandary of illicit migration: abolition of visa obligation for the citizens of one another and establishing robust co-managed border supervision command post mandated to address conflicts, irregular migration, and displacement at border areas.

• The Role of Moisture Schemes in Regional Climate Modeling of Precipitation over the Horn of Africa

  Vol. 2 No. 1 (2019)

  Abstract
  This study aims to evaluate the performance of the latest Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4) to simulate the precipitation over the Horn of Africa. Although there are several aspects in which the model can be improved, the focus of this study is to tackle the problem of its moisture scheme. RegCM4 moisture scheme has fourteen moisture scheme parameters, which can be tuned within the allowed physical limits. Each of the fourteen moisture parameters have been varied around the current default setting and over 80 model runs have been performed for a domain defined by 60km resolution, 18 vertical levels covering spatially the whole Africa and the major circulation patterns that derive climate over the region.

• Plant-pollinator interactions of three selected plant species in Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  Vol. 5 No. 1 (2023)

  
  Assessment of plant-pollinator interaction in three selected naturally grown plant species (Rosa abyssinica,Hypericum revolutum, and Vernonia leopoldi) was conducted using pollination observation method in the Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Critical observation of pollinators was conducted while visiting the floral parts of each species, capturing a photo of each pollinator on the floral part, and at the same time recording the time and giving the general name of pollinators. This observation activity was conducted by walking along the garden, choosing any flowering individual for about 30 min observations for five flowers. Data was collected in five weeks between November and December 2021 about the plant-pollinator
  visits, pollinators’ diversity, number of visits to each species, and pollinators’ preferred time in a day were
  analyzed using descriptive analysis. A total of six functional groups (bees-Hymnoptera, beetles-Coleoptera,
  flies-Diptera, moths and butterflies-Lepidoptera, and bird) were recorded from pollination observation. Bees were the most flower-visiting/pollinating insect group for the three species. Beetles were the second most visited insects on the flowers of the three species, followed by flies, moths, butterflies, and birds. Plants attracted a range of insects, with bees as the most abundant visitor/pollinator, accounting for 88% of the total visits. The rate of insect flower visits for the three species indicated a decrease from the first to the fifth week of floral blooming. For mutual benefit and sustainable conservation of selected flowering plants and pollinating insects, it would be important to promote the botanic garden by establishing a pollinator garden as part of the thematic garden.

• Large Scale Commercial Farming and Its Environmental Impacts: The Case of Gambella Regional State

  Vol. 1 No. 1 (2019)

  Abstract
  The change in Ethiopia’s economic policy from small scale farming to large scale farming began with the global food and fuel crisis in 2007/8. This has led many countries including the Gulf States and several East Asian countries, to re-evaluate their strategies and secure land and water essentially to produce food and fuel. Consequently, in Ethiopia, more than four million hectares of land has been leased to investors for large-scale commercial farming out of which the total land area of 524,202.58 hectares has been distributed for both local and foreign investors in Gambella Regional State. Hence, the main purpose of the study was to assess the impacts of large-scale commercial farming on the sustainability of environment in Gambella regional state.

• CROPPING SYSTEM, SOIL CONSERVATION AND TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN THE ENSET (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) BASED FARMING SYSTEM IN GEDEO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

  Vol. 4 No. 1 (2022)

  Enset (Ensete ventricosum) is a multipurpose crop used for food, fodder, fiber production, fuel, traditional
  medicine, and other cultural practices. The Gedeo enset based farming system is diversified and unique
  in its design and function. The objective of this study was to assess cropping system, soil conservation,
  and technology adoption in the Gedeo enset based farming. The enset based farming system of Gedeo was stratified based on the agro-ecological zones. Accordingly, two kebeles from Dega (highlands), four kebeles from Weyna Dega (midland), and one kebele from Kola (lowland) woredas were selected. Data were collected through key informant interviews, structured questionnaires, and focus group discussions. A total of 230 randomly selected households were interviewed, which was about 10% of the total number of enset producers. The study provides an overview of enset based farming systems, traditional and modern tools, soil erosion conservation activities, and technology adoption of the Gedeo. The result revealed that compared to other existed mixed crops, as altitude increases, enset cropland coverage increases. In lowland areas, the land cover of enset was insignificant. Comparative enset-coffee land covers mainly maters in the midland. The type and the number of animals holding differ across and within the households. In the Gedeo agroforestry system, the problem of soil erosion and conservation practices was insignificant. The result suggests the need for the involvement of the concerned body in the introduction and dissemination of improved technologies by considering the agroforestry system and the mixed crops.

• DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF INTRODUCED LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SANA WATERSHED, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

  Vol. 3 No. 2 (2021)

  Abstract
  In Ethiopia, soil erosion is a severe problem and a major cause of the decline of land productivity. A number of soil and water conservation practices were introduced in south central highlands of Ethiopia to combat land degradation and for sustainable land management. However, the adoption of these practices is far below the expectation. The objective of this study was to examine factors affecting adoption of introduced land management practices in Sana watershed, Southern Ethiopia. Mixed research design methods were employed in order to conduct this study.

• URBAN SOLIDWASTE MANAGEMENT: PERSPECTIVE FROM DILLA TOWN, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

  Vol. 3 No. 1 (2020)

  Abstract
  This article aims to examine solid waste management practices in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia. The
  empirical data is gathered through repeated fieldwork carried out in 2017 with 120 households in Dilla
  town. Observation, questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions were used to obtain the primary data. This study has also benefited from various secondary sources. As the study shows, in Dilla, there is a paucity of basic infrastructure to collect and safely dispose solid wastes. As a result, scenes of scattered wastes, the heap of wastes, and overflowing containers are common in the town. These problems are linked to lack of containers, improper use of transfer stations, limited municipal waste collection service, apathy towards environmental sanitation, a gap in law enforcement, low municipal budgets for the sector, and lack of strategic planning. Thus, the existing rules and regulations of solid waste management have to be strengthened and enforced. There have to be mechanisms by which the government and private sectors work together to ensure sustainable solid waste management.

• Institutional arrangements and stakeholder knowledge of watershed management for food security improvement: a case study of Qersa District, East Haraghe Zone, Ethiopia

  Vol. 6 No. 1 (2024)

  The importance of community-based watershed management for rural development is well acknowledged, yet its comprehensive nature remains underappreciated. This study examines the perceptions of stakeholders and their level of coordination in implementing the watershed approach and its impact on food security. Data was collected from 63 professionals with diverse roles across organizations and 337 farmers from three micro watersheds in Qarsa Woreda, East Hararghe Zone, using surveys and interviews. Results showed varying views: 36% of professionals and 12.6% of farmers see it as a holistic rural development strategy, while 9% of professionals and 36.5% of farmers view it mainly as soil and water conservation. Chi-square tests revealed significant differences in professional perspectives based on organizational role and experience (p-values of 0.05 and 0.01), but farmers’ views were consistent across watersheds. The study also highlighted a lack of effective collaboration among stakeholders, both vertically and horizontally, in supporting local watershed management initiatives. To maximize the benefits of watershed management for food security, it is crucial to improve stakeholder understanding, enhance institutional coordination, and strengthen accountability mechanisms. Addressing these areas through better educational programs and collaborative efforts can support sustainable rural development and improve food security for communities and ecosystems.

• EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF PARTHENIUM (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) WEED DENSITY ON THE VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND GRAIN YIELD OF TEFF (Eragrostis tef Zucc. Trotter) IN SHEWA-ROBIT DISTRICT, NORTH SHEWA, ETHIOPIA

  Vol. 2 No. 2 (2019)

  Abstract
  Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.), is one of the top alien invasive weed species in more than 40 countries, including Ethiopia. It infests several crops and causes significant yield losses, the extent of which depends, among others, on the density of weed and characteristics of crop species. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) weed density on vegetative growth and grain yield of teff (Eragrostis tef Zucc. Trotter) using field experiment. Factorial combination of two traditional teff landraces namely Nech and Seregegna; and three levels of weed density (0, 5% and 10%) were used in the study.

• Economic efficiency in maize (Zea mays L.) production of small holder farmers in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

  Vol. 5 No. 2 (2023)

  Abstract

  Ethiopian agriculture is explained by low productivity, caused by a combination of demographic economic, constraints, and other factors such as-policy factors, drought, war, lack of basic infrastructure, etc. To improve this problem many of the researchers are focusing only on technical efficiency. So, technical and allocative efficiency are important in improving the productivity gains from existing technology. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed. The study was conducted using cross-sectional data. From 366 households randomly selected. The stochastic frontier function was used to estimate the level of technical efficiency (TE), allocative efficiency (AE), and economic efficiency (EE), whereas the Tobit model was used to identify factors affecting efficiency level. The mean TE, AE, and EE were 90.3%, 59.9%, and 76.4%, respectively. The Tobit model results revealed that Gender distance to market, access to credit, training, extension service, seed Variety, and group membership had a significant positive effect on TE, while household size and education level had a negative significant effect on TE. Age, gender, group membership, training, extension service, and seed variety had a positive significant effect on AE, however, household size had a negative significant effect on AE. Moreover, age, gender, group membership, training, extension service, and seed variety had a positive significant effect on EE. However, household size, experience, and distance to market had a negative significant effect on EE. The results showed that there is an opportunity to increase the efficiency of maize production in the study area through improving seed. Therefore, the policies and strategies in development and research may act on these variables to increase the efficiency level of maize producer farmers.

• Floristic Composition, Diversity and Management of Home-gardens in Uba-Debretsehay District, Southern Ethiopia: Implication for Biodiversity Conservation

  Vol. 4 No. 2 (2022)

  Abstract

  Home-gardens contribute a lot to the fulfillment of ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural functions and local community needs. This study was conducted with the main objective of assessing the composition and measuring diversity of plant species grown in home-gardens of Uba-Debretsehay district, southern Ethiopia. Six sampling kebeles were purposively selected. 90 households were considered in this study for data collection. A total of 87 plant species belonging to 40 plant families were documented in the sampled homegardens. Family-wise distribution showed that Fabaceae and Poaceae were the richest families concerning the number of plant species each represents. The home-garden plants documented in Uba-Debretsehay have a range of use values including food, medicine, cash, ornament, spice, and construction. Regarding altitude, Ensete ventricosum, a staple food, was cultivated in home-gardens situated in highland and midland areas. Coffea arabica, various fruits, and vegetables were cultivated in midland areas of the study area while Mussa paradisca, Mangifera indica, and Saccharum officinarum were cultivated at lower altitude areas. Home-gardens in Uba-Debretsehay district consist of different varieties of plant species and serve as a basic agro-ecosystem required for the cultivation and conservation of various plant species. Home-gardens situated in Kolla agroecology have relatively a higher diversity than home-gardens in Woynadega and Dega agro-ecology; however, the overall diversity is low. Agronomists, researchers as well as other concerned bodies need to contribute to conserving plant species cultivated in the home-gardens of the study area and maintaining their diversity to protect them from getting impacted by various factors (natural/environmental and man-made factors).

• Mass flowering and death of Arundinaria alpina (highland bamboo) impact on livelihood of rural community: the case of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

  Vol. 2 No. 1 (2019)

  Abstract
  Ethiopia owns the largest coverage of bamboos in Africa that sums up to more than 1 million
  hectares. This constitutes about 67% of the total area of bamboo in Africa. Bamboo plays a
  crucial role in the livelihood of the local people of Gedeo zone, south Ethiopia. However, the mass
  flowering and mass death currently hit the bamboo forest of the zone and affected both the people
  livelihood and the ecosystem of the area. Thus, this paper tries to highlight the consequences of
  mass flowering of bamboo forest on the livelihood of rural community of the zone.

• Effects of Community Based Watershed Management on Rural Livelihoods: The Case of Lume Woreda, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

  Vol. 5 No. 1 (2023)

  n Ethiopia, natural resource degradation is worsening and posing significant risks, especially to the
  livelihoods of rural communities. Community-based watershed management is fundamental for managing natural resource degradation and minimizing its associated risks on the livelihoods of rural communities.
  The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of community-based micro watershed management on rural livelihoods. The study used descriptive survey research design to achieve the intended objectives and employed quantitative and qualitative data. The total sample size of 251 respondents was taken using a systematic random sampling technique from a study population of 2595 households inhabited in four selected Kebeles. A questionnaire, interviews, field observation, and document analysis were used to collect the data. Besides, statistical methods such as percentage of frequencies, mean, standard deviation, bar graphs, paired sample t-test, and chi-square test were used in data analysis.

• Exploring the Usability of Guangua Badiya River Water for Agricultural Purposes

  Vol. 1 No. 1 (2019)

  Abstract
  The quality of irrigation water directly influences the quality of soil and the crops grown in the soil. Quality of water used for agricultural purposes is directly proportional to the yield. The present study was conducted to find the quality of Gungua Badiya river water and its usability for agricultural purposes in Abaya district, West Gujji Zone, Oromiya Region, Ethiopia. To analyze the physicochemical parameters of the river water, nine samples were collected from upper, middle and lower parts of the river. The physicochemical parameters are analyzed to explore the usability of the river water are: pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnisium (Mg2+), Sodium ( Na+), Chloride (Cl- ) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and Soluble Sodium Percent (SSP). After evaluating the parameters, it is found that the river water is usable to agricultural purposes and meet the standards directed by UCCC, WHO and FAO.

• FOOD INSECURITY IN SMALL URBAN CENTERS OF EAST GOJJAM ZONE, AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

  Vol. 4 No. 1 (2022)

  Food insecurity has become one of the daunting challenges that the urban areas of the developing countries have been grappling with. Small urban centers, in particular, have faced with a serious challenge of food insecurity. The present study aimed to identify the food insecure households and the determinants of food insecurity based on the household survey consumption data. Two-stage sampling technique was used to select the study towns and 328 households. Mean, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and logistic regression were employed to analyse the data. The computed result from the survey consumption data revealed that over one-third of the surveyed households were food insecure while nearly two-third were food secure. This high incidence suggests the severity of food insecurity in these towns. The results further revealed that the incidence and severity of food insecurity varies among the study towns. The logistic regression result also showed that six out of the twelve regressed explanatory variables were found statistically significant determinants of food insecurity. Among the statistically significant variables; migration status of household head, acquired skills of household head, radio/television possession of the household and monthly income of the household have negative association with food insecurity while educational status of the household head and round trip distance from the source of drinking water point have positive association with food insecurity.
  It is therefore recommended that the local government should work on reducing the extent of food insecurity in the study towns by helping households to diversify their income sources. A productive safety net program launched in the major urban areas should also be scaled up.

• PUBLIC SPACE OCCUPATION AND UTILIZATION AMONG STREET CHILDREN OF DILLA TOWN

  Vol. 3 No. 2 (2021)

  Abstract
  The problem of street children is a global concern and an increasing number of children are being forced to the streets driven by poverty, abuse, loss of parent, divorce, and torture. Most of these children are deprived of basic needs such as shelter, food and cloth. There is a widespread perception among the children and the public in large that public space is a free space for street children to enjoy. This paper explores public space occupation and utilization by street children using GIS and RS techniques.

• THE ROLE OF PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT IN SUSTAINING RURAL LIVELIHOOD AND FOREST CONDITIONS IN SHEKO FOREST, SOUTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA

  Vol. 3 No. 1 (2020)

  Abstract
  Different arrangements of decentralized forest management highlighting the inclusion of communities have been promoted to halt deforestation and environmental degradation. The participatory Forest Management (PFM) scheme was introduced as an alternative tool to enhance sustainable forest management through community participation during the early 1990s. This study was conducted in the Sheko forest to examine the role of PFM on the livelihoods of rural community and forest conditions. Forest inventory and socioeconomic surveys were conducted to collect data through involving 95 households and 27 sample plots. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical tools.

• MACRO AND MICRO MINERAL STATUS OF DAIRY FEEDS IN EAST SHOA ZONE, OROMIA REGION STATE, ETHIOPIA

  Vol. 2 No. 2 (2019)

  Abstract
  The aim of this study was to evaluate different feed types collected from two districts (Ada’a and Adama zuria) of two production systems (urban and peri-urban) based on season’s (dry and wet) in East Shoa Zone, for their macro and micro mineral concentrations. Feeds in the selected districts comprised of roughages, concentrates, and non-conventional feeds. All feed samples were taken directly from the field supplied by the farmers. The feed samples were analyzed for the macro and micro minerals namely Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Co, using atomic absorption flame emission spectrometer and P concentration was measured by the spectrophotometer. The critical level (CL) used in this article is defined as the concentration of minerals below the level considering the requirements for dairy cows. The mean calcium concentrations in roughage varied from (0.13 to 0.55%); concentrate (0.14 to 0.64%) and non-conventional feed (0.34 to 0.69%) DM respectively.

• Determinants of food security among rural households in Majang Zone, Gambella Region, South-western Ethiopia

  Vol. 6 No. 1 (2024)

  Attaining food security is a basic human right and a priority development agenda, particularly for the least developed countries, although the challenge remains tough. The research was designed to analyze the food security status of households and its determinant factors in the Majang Zone. A multistage sampling was employed to select the 320 households. The study employed a mixed design that uses questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs) to generate data. The data were analyzed using descriptive and binary logistic regression. The findings indicated that nearly 53% and 47% of the households were food secure and insecure, respectively. Beehives (p<0.05), formal education (p<0.01), landholding (p<0.01), oxen ploughing (p<0.05), livestock ownership (p<0.05), farm income (p<0.01), extension support (p<0.01), and family size (p<0.10) significantly and positively determine the household food security status, whereas age (p<0.05) and pesticide use (p<0.05) have negative relationships. A unit increase in the above factors is expected to improve food security by a fold of 0.1014, 2.138, 1.489, 2.237, 0.9674, 0.0001, 2.469, and 0.7226, respectively. Similarly, a unit increase in the age of households and pesticide use tend to reduce food security status by 0.1091 and 2.071 units, respectively. The limitations of improved agricultural technologies such as improved inputs for crop and livestock; small irrigation schemes; institutions including credit services and cooperatives; and infrastructural developments, namely roads, niche markets, and rural electrification, coupled with undiversified income sources, call for holistic and sustainable strategic intervention from concerned bodies of the government and stakeholders at all levels to curb food insecurity challenges.