Archives - Page 3

• 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.