Archives - Page 3

• Gondoro as a Social Capital: Analysis of an Indigenous Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Practice of the Guji and Gedeo Peoples

  Vol. 5 No. 1 (2023)

  The people ruled by the Gada system have a tradition of stopping conflict and establishing peace. The Guji and Gede’o people have a tradition of conflict resolution and peacemaking called Gondoro. This research paper aims to show that the Gondoro traditional method of conflict resolution is the social capital of the Guji and Gedeo people. To achieve this purpose, the qualitative descriptive research approach was applied. Through this approach, the Gondoro tradition was described in terms of how it was performed and the traditional practices and their contextual meanings it embodied. A purposive sampling technique was used to select key informants who were cultural group leaders from Guji and Gede’o. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis (archival analysis) were employed for data collection. The data were analyzed by dividing them into different topics to adequately answer the research questions. Based on the analysis of the qualitative data, Gondoro is performed to cleanse ‘fratricide’ that could happen between the Guji and Gedeo people or within the Guji or Gedeo people. It is done to cleanse the grief resulting from the ‘fratricide’ and restore peace among the communities. The article discusses that the Guji and Gede’o people have ‘fraternal’ relationship that has been reinforced through their shared legendary narratives and cultural practices. Accordingly, the article argues that the Gondoro tradition is the social capital of the Guji and Gede’o people. The article concludes that indigenous knowledge, such as the Gondoro tradition, can serve as a good experience for Ethiopian ethnic groups sharing the border to solve their security problems through their common tradition

• Asian Vitis Species for Modern Grapevine Breeding and Wine Industry: A Review

  Vol. 1 No. 1 (2019)

  Abstract
  Viticulture is one of the major horticultural industries of the world, with the area of grapevines cultivated exceeding 7.9 million hectare. The grapevines belong to the family Vitaceae, which are mostly woody, tree-climbing vines, though a few have a shrubby growth habit. They have tendrils and inflorescences opposite the leaves. The grapevine fruit is used in a wide variety of products, ranging through fresh fruit, preserves, juice, wine and raisins. This review paper attempts to address a potential Asian Vitis species, as there was no sufficient information and most of the species were ignored in modern viticulture and enology. Vitis amurensis, Vitis heyneana, Vitis davidii, and Vitis yeshanensis are the most common and most popular species in Asia.

• ASSESSING ADOPTION LEVEL OF CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO FOOD SECURITY OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN ARTUMA-FURSI WOREDA, OROMO-SPECIAL ZONE OF AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

  Vol. 4 No. 1 (2022)

  Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is a new agricultural approach designed to improve resilience and food
  security of farmers in the face of climate change. The study was thus intended to assess CSA adoption level and its contribution to food security of farmers in Artuma-Fursi Woreda, Oromo Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Two-stage sampling was used to select 259 households, from whom primary data were collected via crosssectional household survey. Content analysis was used to identify farm level CSA Practices/Technologies (CSAPTs) with close examination of locally specific character of climate-induced food insecurity. Adaptation Strategy Use Index and Composite Score Method were used to assess CSA adoption level and classify households as Low/L, Medium/M and High/H adoption groups (AG). Household Food Balance Model (HFBM) was used to assess food security of households. An ordered Probit regression model was applied to assess factors influencing adoption level of CSAPTs. The study identified 30 CSAPTs. Results showed that Crop and Livestock Management were most frequently adopted, while the later 2 were least frequently adopted CSAPTs. Results also indicated that 22.8%, 32.8% and 44.4% of the households fall under HAG, MAG and LAG with a mean dietary energy scores of 1946.0, 1785.82 and 1692.84kcals/household/day. Results of the one-way between-groups ANOVA showed that the observed differences in mean dietary energy scores of the three adoption groups were larger than what would be expected by chance with p < :05 significant level. HFBM showed that 49.2% of HAG were in acceptable consumption category, in which only 4.7% of low adopters were found. On contrary, 64.7% of LAG were in poor consumption category, in which only 13.56% of high adopters were found, implying that increased level of CSA adoption had higher contribution to improve households’ food security. Results of the ordered probit model indicated that membership in SACCOs, livestock ownership and education level of household head were significant explanatory variables determining CSA adoption level in LAG, MAG and HAG at 1%, 5% & 10% significant levels, respectively.
  Marginal effects estimated for the rest of variables were negatively related in LAG, while they were positively related in HAG, implying that increases in these variables make it less likely to find households in LAG and more likely to boost adoption in HAG showing potential entry points for future intervention.

• 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.

• Smallholder Farmers’ Climate Change Adaptation Practices and their Determinants in Negelle Arsi District, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

  Vol. 6 No. 2 (2024)

  Climate change presents an unavoidable challenge that disproportionately affects developing nations. In Ethiopia, the livelihoods of smallholder farmers heavily depend on rain-fed agriculture, making them particularly vulnerable to recurrent droughts and unpredictable rainfall patterns. Therefore, adaptation mechanisms are crucial for addressing the impacts of climate change. This study aims to assess the climate change adaptation practices of smallholder farmers and their determinants in the Negelle Arsi district. A cross-sectional survey design with a mixed-methods approach was employed. Both primary and secondary data were collected, utilizing systematic random sampling to identify the sampled households. Primary data were gathered through a survey questionnaire involving 184 households, supplemented by four focus group discussions and four key informant interviews. Secondary data relevant to the study were obtained from both published and unpublished sources. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi square tests, and a multivariate probit model. The results revealed that the dominant adaptation strategies employed by smallholder farmers in the study area included improved crop varieties, adjusting planting dates, crop diversification, terracing, and reserving crop residues. The maximum likelihood estimates from the multivariate probit model indicated that the probabilities of households adopting these adaptation measures were 93%for improved crop varieties, 85% for adjusting planting dates, 57% for crop diversification, 90% for practicing terracing, and 91% for reserving crop residues. The implementation of these strategies varied by agro-ecological location. Significant factors influencing the choice of climate adaptation strategies included education, family size, access to communication devices, farm size, extension services, membership in social organizations, and agro-ecological location. Consequently, future policy should focus on raising awareness among farmers and extension workers regarding the determinants of climate change adaptation. Additionally, it is essential to implement location-specific measures that are appropriate for both current and projected climate conditions