Bio-Physical and Socio-Economic Impact of Integrated Watershed Management in Ojoje, Doyogena District Southern Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Ojoje watershed of southern Ethiopia with the objective of evaluating biophysical and socio-economic impact of soil and water conservation (SWC) technological options in crop-livestock mixed farming systems. Three watersheds were assessed using formal interview and focus group discussions using stratified sampling procedure. The before and after intervention effects was assessed using t-test. The results indicated that land use improved from 68% before intervention to 88% after intervention. 91.3% of the participants perceived that land degradation was a serious problem before while the percentage decreased to 30.5% after interventions. 93.5% of the participants perceived that soil fertility decreased crop yield. There was 6% stone bund, 39% soil bund and 9% fanya-Juu before intervention but after intervention soil band increased to 80%, fanya-Juu to 12.5% and infiltration pits to 3.6%. Improved soil and water conservation (SWC) structures and live barriers have contributed for the reduced soil degradation. 88.7% of the sources of SWC structures such as stabilizers were from governmental organization. Soil bunds were covered with 92.3% grasses and 3.8% without any stabilizer. The results indicated that using live soil stabilizers improved soil fertility, reduced soil degradation and improved crop yield, implying soil and water conservation is crucial for improving soil fertility and overall crop productivity other than changing the microenvironment. Keywords: Crop yield, Soil bunds; soil erosion; Stabilizers; soil and water conservatio

Evaluation of Different Blended Fertilizers Types and Rates for Better Production of Teff (Eragrostis tef) Yield and Yield Components in Tembaro District Kembata Tembaro Zone Southern Ethiopia

The current study was conducted for two consecutive years (218 and 2019) on clay particle dominated soils of Bohe and Bachira kebele in Temabro district kembata Tembaro Zone southern Ethiopia. The main objective of the study was to evaluate different blended fertilizer types and rates for better production of Teff in the study area. The trial have nine treatments (0), (34.5- 37.7-0- 6.95-0.1-0), (46- 55.05-0-10.425-0.15-0), (69-75.4-0-13.9-0.2-0), (34.5-37.7-0-6.95-0.1-0.4), (46-55.05-0-10.425-0.15-0.4), (69-75.4-0-13.9-0.2-0.4), (34.5-37.7-30-6.95-0.1) and (34.5-37.7-30-6.95-0.1-0.4) from NPKSBCu fertilizer sources. The experimental design was randomized compete block design (RCBD) across farmers field and repeated three times per farmer. The highest teff grain yields were recorded with application of 100kg NPSB+ 15.6 kg Urea (T2), 100kg NPSB+30 kg potassium fertilizer (K) (T8), 150kg NPSB+ 38.4 kg Urea (T3) and 200kg NPSB + 67.83 kg Urea per hectare (T4) as compared to T1, T5, T6, T7 and T9. Based on this finding four treatments (T2, T3, T4 and T8) were showed better yield response and those could be suggested as alternative fertilizer sources and soil management options for teff production in the study area. Finally the application of 100kg NPSB+30 kg Potassium fertilizer (34.5-37.7-30-6.95-0.1) and 150 kg NPSB (46- 55.05-0-10.425-0.15) were recommended as first and second options. Economic analysis also reviled that the highest marginal rate return of 16.72 and 7.24 were recorded respectively. The soils of the study area were strongly acidic and poor in available soil nutrient content. Therefore it needs integrated soil fertility management practices for further production of crops in the study area

Prevalence of occupational injury and associated factors among workers in large-scale metal manufacturing factories in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Worldwide work related injuries are becoming serious public health problems. However, very limited attempts have been made to assess the prevalence and factors associated with work-related injuries in Ethiopia.Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of occupational injury and associated factors among workers in large-scale metal manufacturing factories in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 588 metal workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Five metal factories were involved in the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, clinical data reviews and an observational checklist. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were done to describe the study population and identify risk factors associated with injury using an odds ratio with a 95%confidence interval (CI).Results: The prevalence of occupational injury among workers in the metal factories was 291 (49.9%) [95%CI: 45.8-53.9] per year. Among those injured respondents, 149 (51%) were not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time of injury. The use of PPE[adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.84; 95%CI: 2.93-8.01], attending primary school only [AOR=5.64; 95%CI: 3.05-10.43] and having 11 to 20 years’ work experience [AOR=7.878; 95%CI: 2.60-23.90], were major predictors of work-related injury after adjusting for confounding factors. There were 18 recorded incidents resulting in major disabilities in one factory during the study period.Conclusions: The prevalence of occupational injury among metal workers was high. The use of PPE, attending primary school and those who had 11 to 20 years work experience were major predictors of work related injury. There is a need of provide an adequate supply of PPE for all metal workers and to ensure that they use it. [Ethiop.J. Health Dev. 2019; 33(2):94-101]Key words: Work related injury, health and safety, factory workers, occupation, personal protective equipment utilizatio

Assessing the Practice of Birth Defect Registration at Addis Ababa Health Facilities

BACKGROUND፡ Birth defects are conditions that exist at birth and cause structural changes in one or more parts of the body. In order to plan proper management and design preventive activities of these conditions, accurate tracking, registration and analyses of the registered data are important. We assessed the practice of birth defect registration at Addis Ababa health facilities.METHODS: We retrospectively checked the existence of a separate birth defect registry book and assessed the delivery room registration book for completeness in registering birth defects. We also assessed the total number of birth defects registered during 2010-2015.RESULTS: We assessed the practice of birth defect registration at 37 delivery service providing health facilities in Addis Ababa, 20 public and 17 private institutions. Of the 37 health institutions assessed, 23 registered birth defects (3 of them used a separate birth defect registry books, and 20 used a regular registration book to register birth defects). The remaining 14 did not register any congenital anomaly. Of the institutions that do not register congenital anomalies, 10 are private and four are public.CONCLUSION: Only three delivery providing health facilities had a dedicated birth defect registry book which is close to ideal for a birth defect registration. There is a need for others to do the same until an electronic birth defect registration is established. This registration will serve as a resource for clinical governance and studies into quality of life, quality of care, etiology and prevention

Balanced fertilization increases wheat yield response on different soils and agroecological zones in Ethiopia

The response of wheat to the application of different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) under balanced fertilization on different soil types and agroecologies has not been well studied in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (1) determine soil-specific responses of wheat to N, P, K, and S under balanced fertilization; (2) quantify agroecology-specific N, P, K, and S response of wheat under balanced fertilization; and (3) determine nutrient use efficiency of wheat on different soil types under balanced fertilization. Trials were conducted on farmers’ fields across 24 locations covering 4 soil types and 5 agroecological zones (AEZs) from 2013 to 2017. The mean grain yields of wheat significantly varied with applied N and P fertilizer rates with soil types and AEZs. With balanced application of other nutrients, the optimum N rates for wheat were 138 kg N ha−1 on Cambisols and Luvisols, 92 kg N ha−1 on Vertisols, and 176 kg N ha−1 on Nitisols, while the optimum P rate was 20 kg P ha−1 on Cambisols and Vertisols. The nutrient dose–response curve did not reveal consistent pattern for K and S applications on all soil types. The agronomic efficiency of wheat decreased with increasing rates N and P on all soil types. The highest agronomic efficiency of N (15.8 kg grain kg−1 applied N) was recorded with application of 92 kg N ha−1 on Vertisols, while the highest agronomic efficiency of P (49 kg grain kg−1 applied P) was achieved with application of 10 kg P ha−1 on Cambisols. We conclude that applications of 92–138 kg N ha−1, 20 kg P ha−1, 18 kg K ha−1, and 10 kg S ha−1 under balanced application of zinc and boron could be recommended depending on soil type for wheat production in the study areas

Proceeding Report of the 40th Anniversary of National Meteorological Agency, Official endorsement of the National Framework for Climate Services an International Scientific Conference

Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa within 3–15° N and 33–48° E, bordered by Eritrea to the north and northeast, Djibouti to the east, Sudan to the west, Kenya to the south, and Somalia to the south and east. It covers an area of about 1.14 million square kilometers. The country's topography consists of high and rugged plateaus and peripheral lowlands. Elevations in the country range from 160 meters below sea level (northern exit of the Rift Valley) to over 4600 meters above sea level (of northern mountainous regions). The highest mountains are concentrated on the northern and southern plateaus of the country. A large percentage of the country consists of high plateaus and mountain ranges, dissected by major rivers such as Blue Nile, Tekeze, Awash, Omo, Wabi Shebelle, etc. Overall, Ethiopia consists of 9 major rivers and 19 lakes. The Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile, rises in Lake Tana in northwest Ethiopia. The meteorological observation started in the 1890s with few meteorological stations. In 1951, meteorological services were established as a small unit in the then Civil Aviation Department to render aeronautical services. Since then, meteorological observation has been expanding over Ethiopia. As the importance of meteorology was realized by other economic sectors, National Meteorological Services Agency (NMSA) was established by the Government Proclamation Number 201/1980. Besides, NMA started seasonal forecasting and advisory service in 1987 for three seasons, namely Belg (February - May), Kiremt (June-September), and Bega (October-January). The primary duty of NMA is to support all country's socio-economic developments by delivering climate services. Moreover, NMA has more than one thousand three hundred conventional Meteorological stations, three hundred automatic weather stations, five AWOS, three air pollution monitoring stations, three upper air stations, one radar, and eleven satellite receiver stations. The government of Ethiopia is determined to eradicate poverty and become a prosperous country by 2030. In this regard, addressing climate variability and change play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. To this effect, NMA is equipping with modern weather observing and monitoring capabilities and improving processing, analyzing, interpreting, and forecasting weather and climate capabilities at a high resolution and accuracy to meet the end-user's demands and effectively support all socio-economic developments of the country. NMA collaborates with all key stakeholders and partners through continuous engagement on climate services. The NFCS, endorsed during the NMA 40th Anniversary, is envisaged to strengthen collaborative co-production between climate services provider (NMA) and climate service beneficiaries institutions (MoWIE, EFCCC, MoA, MoH, and NDRMC). To commemorate its 40th anniversary, NMA has organized a conference with a theme of "Forty Years of Climate and Weather Services in Ethiopia" on May 25-26, 2021, at Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Generally, three main sessions were held during the conference. These include; Session one: panel discussion and opening ceremony; session two: presentations on the history of NMA and NFCS Ethiopia, official endorsement of NFSC Ethiopia, and certificate wards; and session three: parallel session of four groups and paper presentations on different thematic areas were made. The 40th anniversary was attended by ministers, commissioners, heads of organizations, and representatives from the WMO Africa regional office, international institutes representatives, experts from different organizations, lecturers, researchers, and NMA officials and staff. This document is proceedings of the 40th anniversary, including summaries of the opening session and the presentations