Archives - Page 2

  • 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.

  • Contribution of Homegarden Agroforestry to Household Income Generation and Woody Plant Species Diversity in Lay Armachiho District, Northern Ethiopia
    Vol. 6 No. 2 (2024)

    Homegarden agroforestry (HGAF) is a complex, multifunctional, and sustainable land use system that integrates various farming components to provide economic, social, and environmental services. This study aims to assess the role of HGAF in household income generation and woody plant species diversity in the Lay Armacho district of Northern Ethiopia. Multistage sampling techniques were employed for household sampling, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches for data collection. Quantitative data were gathered from a sample of 315 farmers through structured and semi-structured questionnaires. Qualitative data were collected via focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). For assessing plant species diversity, each homegarden was divided into one or more 10 x 10 m plots based on size, and a plot was randomly selected for analysis. The results indicate a highly significant difference in annual income generation between HGAF adopters and non-adopters, with adopters generating an average of 24,276.85 ± 20,059.60 Ethiopian Birr, compared to 11,379.96 ± 5,873.46 Birr for non-adopters. In terms of woody plant species diversity, HGAF in the study area exhibited a diversified and evenly distributed array of species, comprising a total of 52 woody plant species belonging to 30 families. Thus, practicing homegarden agroforestry holds significant value for both income generation and woody plant species diversity in the study area. To fully realize these benefits, it is recommended that all farmers in the region adopt homegarden agroforestry practices

  • 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.

  • Biopesticidal Effect of Acokanthera schimperi and Nicotiana tabacum on Maize Storage Insect, Sitophilus zeamais
    Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025)

    Maize serves as a primary staple food for approximately one-third of the sub-Saharan population. Despite being the third most widely produced grain globally, various factors impede its production. Insects, par ticularly maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais), play a crucial role in hindering maize production, especially during storage. This study investigates the efficacy of two medicinal plants, Acokanthera schimperi and Nicotiana tabacum, in managing the maize weevil, a significant pest affecting stored grain. Adult maize weevils (S. zeamais) were collected and reared in the entomological laboratory at Addis Ababa University. The medicinal plants, Acokanthera schimperi and Nicotiana tabacum, were processed into powder and applied to the laboratory-reared S. zeamais in varying amounts. Statistical analysis, using SPSS version 16’s ANOVA, was conducted to assess mean differences among replicates and dose rates. The plant toxicity test employed the "corrected mortality (%)" formula. Results indicated that Nicotiana tabacum demonstrated effectiveness against the maize weevil, with approximately 59% mortality recorded among adult weevils during the experimentation. This highlights the potential for sustainable utilization of plant resources for affordable pest management, while simultaneously mitigating the environmental detriments associated with conventional methods.

  • 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.

  • Occurrence of External Injuries in Working Equines and associated risk factors, Around Alagie Districts, Southern Ethiopia
    Vol. 6 No. 2 (2024)

    Equine welfare issues are significant challenges in Ethiopia, threatening the health of the animals and the livelihoods of their owners. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and May 2022 in districts around Alagae. The study aimed to assess the welfare status of working equines and the practices surrounding wound management in the region. Both direct (animal-based) and indirect (owner interviews via questionnaire) methods were employed. A total of 400 equines were examined, comprising 312 donkeys, 78 horses, and 10 mules, revealing an overall wound prevalence of 69.3%. The species-specific prevalence of wounds was 54.3% for donkeys, 13.5% for horses, and 1.5% for mules. The intensity of wounds was categorized as mild (46.8%), moderate (9.5%), and severe (3.0%) among donkeys, horses, and mules, respectively. Packed equines experienced a higher occurrence of wounds (56.5%) compared to cart animals (12.8%). Additionally, common equine problems included hoof overgrowth (16.5%), hoof deformity (0.8%), and gait and posture abnormalities (6.3%). The study indicated that among 277 equine wound cases, 14.1% were left untreated by either veterinary professionals or traditional healers. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in wound care conditions among donkey species based on management practices, showing a strong association between wound care management and conditions (χ2 = 19.148, df = 3, p = 0.014). Overall, external injuries represent major health and welfare concerns for working equines in the study area. Therefore, the development of a comprehensive equine health management and welfare improvement program is essential to address these issues effectively

  • 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.

  • External debt servicing, foreign exchange constraint and import demand: evidence from Ethiopian economy
    Vol. 5 No. 2 (2023)

    Abstract

    This study shows empirical evidence about the effects of external debt servicing on the foreign exchange reserve of the country and tests whether foreign exchange availability of the country affects the import demand. A yearly basis data starting from 1982 up to 2021 is employed. The required data are retrieved mostly from the World Development Indicator (WDI) database of the World Bank. In analyzing the data, the auto regressive (ARDL) technique of econometric estimation is used. The long-run result shows that repayment of foreign borrowing is insignificant in affecting the foreign exchange reserve of the nation. However, foreign aid, foreign borrowing and export growth are significant in increasing the foreign exchange reserve of the country. A sufficient supply of foreign currency in an economy is important to deal against instability and uncertainty of foreign capital flows. So, the government of Ethiopia can enhance the foreign exchange reserve through capital inflows and export growth. The findings from the import demand function of Ethiopia show that the foreign currency reserve is significant in driving import demand of the country. It is known that import enables unfettered access to capital goods from abroad and for improving the domestic welfare. So, the government should have stable and sufficient foreign exchange reserves to finance import of goods and services from abroad.

  • Determinants of Rural Youth Participation in Non-Farm Income Generating Activities: the Case of East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia
    Vol. 2 No. 1 (2019)

    Abstract
    Rural youths are forced to look for non-farm income generating activities to sustain and secure their livelihoods as well as to supplement their agricultural activities. However, their participation in nonfarm activities is influenced by various and yet empirically unidentified factors in East Gojjam Zone. Thus, the aim of the study was to identify factors that determine the participation of rural youths in non-farm income generating activities in the study area. The study drew a sample of 360 rural youths through systematic random sampling technique from three woredas of East Gojjam Zone. Data were collected using interview schedule, focus group discussions and key informant interviews.

  • Response of Growth and Yield of Bread Wheat Varieties to Blended NPSB Fertilizer Application Rates
    Vol. 4 No. 2 (2022)

    Abstract

    Low soil fertility and poor crop management practices are among the major constraints limiting the productivity of bread wheat in Ethiopia in general and Hulbareg District in particular. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in Hulbareg District during the 2019 main cropping season to evaluate the effect of blended NPSB fertilizer rates on yield and yield components and to determine the economically feasible rates for bread wheat production. Factorial combination of three improved bread wheat varieties (Ogolcho, Kekeba and Kingbird) and five rates of NPSB fertilizers (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that the plant height, number of kernels per spike, thousand kernel weight, straw yield, number of total tillers and productive tillers were substantially (P <0.01) affected by the main effects of NPSB.. The interaction effect of fertilizer and variety was also statistically affected the days to physiological maturity, total aboveground dry biomass and grain yield. The maximum grain yield (6500 kg ha−1) and above ground dry biomass kg ha−1 (15389), were recorded at the combination of the highest rates of NPSB, i.e., 200 kg with variety Ogolcho. Generally, the economic feasibility of the fertilizer over varieties combination indicated that application of 200 kg NPSB ha−1 to Kekeba variety resulted in maximum marginal rates of return of 4202%. The partial budget analysis revealed that the highest net return (72, 495 Birr ha−1) with MRR 2711.9% was obtained for Ogolcho from application of 200 kg NPSB ha−1. Based on the result of this study, it can be concluded that bread wheat variety Ogolcho and NPSB rate of 200 kg ha−1 to be appropriate for bread wheat production in the study area.

  • Assessment of Environmental Security from the Standpoint of Threat to National Security: The Case of Ethiopia
    Vol. 1 No. 1 (2019)

    Abstract
    Different researches have revealed that Ethiopia has a number of environmentally-related problems that threaten national security. The country loses up to 2-6 percent of annual crop production due to climate uncertainties, with drought being the main national environmental challenge. Ethiopia has a high country risk index of 7.38, one of the highest in Eastern Africa, which underlies a high level of potential risk for conflict, both within the country as well as in the region. Again, Ethiopia has an environmental score of 7.67 which is a high risk level. Generally speaking, therefore, Ethiopia is identified as a hot spot for environmental concern.

  • Unveiling the shift of smallholders’ Cash Crop Farming from Coffee-orchard to Khat in Sidama region, Ethiopia
    Vol. 5 No. 1 (2023)

    The study unveiled the recent competing shifting of cash cropping smallholders’ farmland use from coffee and orchard fruits to khat farming based on the empirical evidence collected from the Sidama region, Ethiopia. Despite the national economic and sociocultural importance of coffee in Ethiopia, large tracts of coffee farmland are being cleared and converted to khat cropping in Sidama, Ethiopia. A mixed research design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. The sampling technique was multistage. The multistage sampling technique that combined purposive, stratification and simple random sampling techniques was used. Two woredas, namely Dara and Aleta Chuko were purposely selected, and from Dara, 190 respondents were randomly selected from three kebeles, and from Aleta Chuko, 192 respondents were selected randomly from three kebeles, and a total of 382 farm households were selected from the study area.
    Primary data was collected using survey questionnaires, interviews, observation, and focus group discussions. The logistic regression technique was used to identify the determinants of farmland shift from coffee and orchard fruit farming to khat farming. The study revealed that in one district of the study area, khat plantation
    coverage increased from 86 hectares in 2018/19 to 170 hectares in 2019/20. In this district, from twenty-four kebeles (the smallest administrative unit), sixteen kebeles were coffee producers. Currently, three of them are converted by khat cropping. Among other factors, market bureaucracy, market access, and income strongly contributed to the shift of coffee farmland into khat farming. Furthermore, the study revealed that the shift is poverty-induced and is an alternative to the ever-challenging smallholder’s livelihood, and the expansion of khat farming brought negative sociocultural and political consequences to the local community. On the contrary, the government follows non-involvement farmland use policy to khat production and marketing for undefined reasons. We confirmed some actors, such as local state authorities, brokers, and traders have networked interests in khat production and marketing. The study contributes to policy debate, dialogue, and inputs on cash crop farming.

  • Occurrence and Associated Risk Factors of Inedible Foreign Objects in Cattle Butchered at Dilla Municipal Abattoir, Southern Ethiopia
    Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025)

    The research was conducted on cattle slaughtered at the Dilla Municipal Abattoir in the Gedeo Zone of Southern Ethiopia from March to July 2024. The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors of indigestible waste objects in slaughtered cattle. A cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the animals through both ante-mortem inspections and post-mortem examinations. During these examinations, various foreign bodies were identified in the rumen and reticulum. Out of 384 slaughtered cattle, 172 (44.79%) tested positive for the presence of foreign bodies. The prevalence of foreign bodies showed a significant difference based on the sex of the cattle (χ2 = 7.07, p < 0.01) and age categories (χ2 = 6.01, p < 0.05). Post-mortem results revealed that the most found foreign objects included plastics (21.5%), nylon clothes (20.93%), rope (13.95%), and iron/wires (11.63%). Plastic materials were primarily located in the rumen, while non-plastic objects were mainly found in the reticulum. Rumen foreign bodies had a higher prevalence than those found in the reticulum (χ2 = 7.3, p < 0.00). Additionally, the prevalence of foreign bodies varied significantly across different age groups in relation to body condition (χ2 = 7.95, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the ingestion of waste materials poses significant veterinary health challenges, leading to decreased production and productivity, which ultimately results in higher mortality rates in cattle managed under extensive systems. In conclusion, these results can inform the formulation of policies for solid waste management and strategies aimed at reducing environmental pollution while safeguarding animal health. Therefore, it is recommended that further surveillance and monitoring of organ condemnation at the Dilla abattoir be implemented to control the spread of zoonotic and other diseases.

  • RESPONSE OF TOMATO FRUIT PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITY AND SHELF LIFE TO MATURITY STAGE AND STORAGE DURATION
    Vol. 4 No. 1 (2022)

    As a climacteric nature and fresh produce, tomato is highly perishable that needs smooth postharvest handling, technologies and treatment methods to maintain its quality and extend shelf life. The aim of the study was to explore the influence of different maturation stages and storage duration. The experiment was conducted in Dilla University from April to May 2021 which consisted of five maturation stages and five storage duration with three replications arranged in CRD factorial combination. Fifty fruits for each maturity stage were taken and packed inside boxes and stored in refrigeration at 12C temperature and 95% relative humidity. Fruits were evaluated for firmness, pH value, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and shelf life. The interaction effects of maturation stage and storage period were highly significant in fruit firmness, titratable acidity, pH value and shelf life. The highest firmness was observed in fruits harvested at full green stage (0% coloration) during the initial storage period and declined when fruits get ripened and stored for prolonged period of time. Total soluble solids and pH value increased simultaneously with advancing maturation stage and storage duration. However, the content of titratable acidity increased up to half ripening stage and the second week, followed by a diminishing trend when fruits fully ripened and stored for prolonged time. Therefore, harvesting at the right maturation stage and proper postharvest handling of tomato fruits is vital to maintain physicochemical quality and extend storability potential with obvious commercial interest.

  • EFFECT OF VERMICOMPOST APPLICATION ON POTATO TUBER YIELD AT BULE DISTRICT, HIGHLAND OF GEDEO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
    Vol. 3 No. 2 (2021)

    Abstract
    Ethiopia is known for its high potato production potential though the average productivity compared to
    other countries is low. Various factors were contributed for its low productivity including soil acidity
    and unbalanced soil nutrient concentrations which are serious challenges to small scale farmers for crop
    production in the highlands of Ethiopia.

26-50 of 60