Determinants of crop diversity and composition in Enset-coffee agroforestry homegardens of Southern Ethiopia

Households in much of the tropics depend for their livelihoods on the variety and continued production of food and other products that are provided by their own farms. In such systems, maintenance of agrobiodiversity and ensuring food security are important for the well being of the population. The enset-coffee agroforestry homegardens of Southern Ethiopia that are dominated by two native perennial crops, Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) and Enset (Enset ventricosum Welw. Cheesman), are examples of such agricultural systems. This study was conducted in Sidama administrative zone of Southern Ethiopia to determine the factors that influence the diversity and composition of crops in the systems. Data were collected from 144 sample homegardens selected from four districts. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to relate indices of crop diversity and area share of major crops with the physical and socioeconomic factors. The study revealed that socioeconomic factors, mainly proximity to markets, affected negatively crop species richness. The production area of the main crops enset and coffee decreased with increasing proximity to market and road while that of maize and khat increased. At household level, farm size had a significant effect on area share of enset and coffee. As farm size increased the share of the cash crop, coffee increased but that of the staple, enset declined. Enset, which is the backbone of the system in terms of food security, is declining on small farms and the share of monoculture maize system is increasing. The trend towards declining agrobiodiversity, and reduction in the production area of the main perennial crops and their gradual replacement with monoculture fields could make the systems liable to instability and collapse. As these sites are high potential agricultural areas, intensification can be achieved by integrating high-value and more productive crops, such as fruits, spices and vegetables, while maintaining the integrated and complex nature of the systems

Laws of investment and environmental protection : the case of Ethiopian largescale agriculture

A contradiction between the Ethiopian law of investment and environmental law is prevalent since law of investment promotes development while environmental law protects the environment. The thesis investigates the general legal issue: How do the investment and environmental laws of Ethiopia promote large-scale agricultural development without adversely affecting the environment? In the research, comparative legal research methodology is employed: comparison is made between the internationally accepted principles of large-scale agricultural investment and Ethiopian laws; the laws and experiences of Brazil and South Africa are showed that law of sustainable large-scale agricultural investment is vital to promote agricultural development and protect the environment. International law on investment and environment are also considered. International legal principles of solving the contradiction between environmental law and investment law are analysed. Legal and document analysis of Ethiopian laws, policies and government documents have been made. Interviews have been made, data through questionnaires have been collected and analysed, and 12 large-scale agricultural investment farms have been observed and critically analysed. The thesis identified that law of large-scale agricultural investment promotes development while Ethiopian environmental law protects the environment. The law has a role in promoting large-scale agricultural development by recognising the right to development and providing incentives and creating conducive environment. Thus, the law should be used to promote both the right to development and environmental protection. The nexus between investment law and environmental law should be strengthening. It is identified that the law of sustainable large-scale agricultural development could protect the environment while promoting large-scale agricultural development. The thesis identified the Ethiopian law and the practices do not promote sustainable large-scale agricultural development. Thus, it is recommended that precautionary principle, like EIA should be made a requirement for large-scale agricultural investment, implementing efficiently and effectively the large-scale agricultural law principles, and laws to achieve sustainable large-scale agriculture.Public, Constitutional and International LawLL. D

Assessment of Opportunities and Challenges to Established Community Based MRV: Study in the Bale Mountain Eco-region REDD+ Project, Southeastern Ethiopia

Though communities are supposed to participate in the whole processes of REDD+ implementation, there is no strong community based monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system fitting the context of REDD+ processes. This study asses opportunities and challenges of developing appropriate community based MRV in Bale Eco-region REDD+ project. Data were collected through survey questionnaire administered to 154 sampled households and supplemented by focus group discussion and key informant interviews.Opportunities and challenges were discussed through percentage and frequency results of variables. Accordingly, about 27.9% of sampled households were participating in forest patrolling activity, 1.3% of the respondents can take GPS for boundary demarcation and other purpose and 12.3% of the respondents can record both illegal actions and development activities in the forest concession including regeneration status. 67.5% of sampled households responded that community based monitoring reporting and verification has great contribution in reducing both deforestation and forest degradation. Furthermore, about 64.3% of sampled respondents lack skills to data gathering, forest inventories, data analysis, interpretation and reporting and 26.6% of respondents lack capacities and basic infrastructure (electricity, internet, hardware, software). 62.3% of sampled households were not reporting any forest monitoring achievements, 26.6% of the respondents were reporting to Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise, 4.5% of the respondents were reporting to Farm Africa and SOS Sahel Ethiopia and 57.1% of the sampled households recommended new reporting channel. The study also found that 90.3% of sampled households preferred to share benefit at household level.Binary logistic regression analysis result revealed that age, family size, marital status, education level, income from forest product, total land holding, distance from forest and benefit distribution were not influencing participation in community based MRV. Sex, Income source, MRV know-how, REDD+ awareness and MRV training were factors affecting participation in community based MRV. In summary, communities should be trained on the skills needed to undertake community based MRV. Simple data collection formats and reporting systems should be developed through participatory approach. Moreover, the government should create appropriate incentive mechanism in order for communities to strongly undertake community based MRV. Keywords: Community based MRV; Incentive; Binary logistic regression models; Opportunities and Challenges; REDD+. DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/90-01 Publication date: January 31st 202

Population dynamics of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L. 1758) stock in Lake Langeno, Ethiopia

Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is a widely distributed and economically most import fish species in Ethiopia. Effective management is essential to sustain their fisheries and the benefits for the local communities. However, little is known about the population dynamics of the Nile tilapia stock in Lake Langeno. Vital parameters of its population were determined using length frequency data collected from 5,949 specimens ranging from 8.5 to 35.7 cm total length (tl). These specimens were collected from August 2017to July 2018. The population parameters were determined using the elefan I routine in FiSAT software. Estimated von Bertalanffy growth parameters were asymptotic length (L∞) = 35.70 cm, growth curvature (K) = 0.32 yr-1, age at length zero (to) = -0.49, and growth performance index (Փ') = 2.61. Instantaneous total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), and fishing mortality (F) rates were determined from length-converted catch curve and empirical models, respectively, and their values obtained were Z = 2.31 yr-1, M = 0.82 and F =1.56 yr-1, respectively. The exploitation rate (E) of Nile tilapia computed from its mortality rates was 0.67 yr-1, suggesting state of overfishing. The size at first capture (Lc) was estimated at 14.0 cm which is much lower than the size at first maturity (Lm=16.62 cm), which further substantiated the state of overfishing. The results of the study are very useful for fishery managers and scientists who wish to manage and further explore the Nile tilapia stock in Lake Langeno

Surgical Admissions and Treatment Outcomes at a Tertiary Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Ethiopia: A Two-Year Review

BACKGROUND፡ Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a special unit where critically ill patients who require advanced respiratory or hemodynamic support are admitted. Little has been published about surgical intensive care unit patients in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of admission and treatment outcomes of adult surgical patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC).METHODS: A two-year retrospective medical record review of all adult surgical patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College .RESULTS: Surgical patients made up 91(22.1%) of 411 admissions of adult intensive care unit.Of these, 82 (M: F = 1.5:1) patients were analyzed. Age ranged from 16 to 82 years with a mean age of 43 years (SD +/-18.2). Emergency admissions accounted for 70(85.4%) cases. The top three primary admission diagnoses were generalized peritonitis secondary to perforated viscus (25,30.5%), bowel obstruction (21,25.6 %) and trauma (13,15.9%). Acute respiratory failure (38,46.3%) and septic shock (23,28.0%) were the leading indications of intensive care unitadmission. Most patients (62,75.6%) received mechanical ventilatory support.The mean length of intensive care unit stay was 7.3 days (SD+/-5.2).Death occurred in 33(40.2%) patients. Mortality was higher in those who stayed for 48hours (OR=5.6;95% CI 1.60-19.69; p=0.007) and in ventilated patients (OR=5.3; 95% CI 1.41-19.98; p=0.013).CONCLUSION:The observed mortality in this review was higher than the one in most reports. It was significantly high in patients who stayed for 48 hours and in those who required mechanical ventilatory support.&nbsp

Evaluation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes for resistance to late blight at Sinana Southeastern Ethiopia

Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, is one of the most significant constraints to potato production in Bale high lands and other regions of Ethiopia. Hence, this requires to develop high yielding and late blight resistant varieties. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine host resistance of potato against Phytophthora infestans in order to develop late blight resistant/tolerant genotypes. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications at Sinana Agricultural Research Center during 2014 main cropping season. The genotypes showed highly significant (P<0.01) differences for all the characters studied. Genotypes exhibited wide ranges of mean values for all characters. The highest total tuber yield (46.1 t ha-1) was obtained from the advanced clone, CIP-392640.524 followed by Belete (41 t ha-1). Late blight appeared early on farmer's cultivar Kellacho (48 days after planting) and late on advanced clones CIP- 399062.102(74 days after planting). Percent severity index (PSI) and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) ranged from 33.91 to 91.67% and 105 to 2370, respectively. Eleven newly introduced clones and the released variety "Belete" recorded PSI 33 to 39.7% and AUDPC 105 to 264.1. Hence, these genotypes can be categorized as moderately resistant. The study revealed the presence of considerable variability in tested genotypes for economically important traits and the higher chance of selecting genotypes with high yield and moderately resistant to late blight. However, it appears that further evaluation of genotypes across seasons and locations to identify genotypes that could be released as varieties seem to be quite pertinent.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 6 (1): 21-25, June, 201

Diversity, density and management of trees in different agro-forestry practices of Yem Special District, Southern Ethiopia

Conserving tree species diversity cannot be restricted to forest areas because of increasing encroachment to remaining forests. Agricultural landscapes can also maintain tree species diversity where the native habitats are heavily diminished and/or merit conservation. The present study was conducted in the agroforestry practices of Yem Special District, Southern Ethiopia, to determine the diversity, composition and density of trees, and assess farmers’ tree management practices. The data were collected through two consecutive field surveys involving structured household questionnaires administered in 126 households, and making inventory of the woody species. Data were analyzed using one way anova, and Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests. The status of tree species richness and diversity were quantified for the different agroforestry practices. A total of 100 tree and shrub species belonging to 57 families and 83 genera were recorded in the different agroforestry practices of individual household farms, of which 11 (or 11%) were exotic and 89 (or 89%) native species. The mean value of tree species per household for the overall agroforestry practices was 14.04 and it was found to be significantly different among sites, mainly due to differences in agroecology and road access. Tree species richness was influenced by distance to major roads, wealth status, farm size and family size. The study revealed that the agroforestry practices contribute to the conservation of agrobiodiversity

Perceived Sleep Quality of Heart Failure Patients at Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH) Chronic Follow up Clinic South West Ethiopia, 2015

Background: Chronic heart failure is an important health problem associated with changes in sleep pattern and quality among patients with heart failure. Besides having negative effect on the patients' quality of life, it is one of the most disturbing problems. Poor sleep compromise cognition and one's self-care practice. Though factors affecting sleep among heart failure patients have been investigated in developed world this is not well understood in developing countries like Ethiopia. The aim of this study was therefore, to assess the level of sleep quality and associated factors among heart failure patients. Methods: - A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 1 to November 15, 2014 at Jimma University Specialized Hospital chronic illness follow up clinic. Data was collected by using standardized structured interviewer administrated questionnaires. Sleep quality was rated by participants using Pittsburg sleep quality scale. Convenient sampling technique was employed. Data analysis was done by SPSS windows version 20.0 statistical package. Statistical association was declared at p-value of <0.05 and results were presented using tables, figures and narratives. Result: A total of 278 patients participated in the study. On the Pittsburg sleep quality scale 42(15.1%) of the participants rated their perceived sleep quality as very bad with the mean score of 9.23 (SD = 4.05).  Overall, 81.65% of participants had poor sleep quality. Patients who were farmers 166(59.7%) had poor sleep quality than others.  Conclusion and recommendation: Majority of the study participants have poor sleep quality having Pittsburgh sleep quality scale score of greater than five whereas only few of them had good sleep quality. Therefore, Health education and symptom management should be focused in this population to improve their sleep quality. Keywords: Sleep quality, heart failure, Jimma University Specialized Hospital