Analyzing the Effect of Export Promotion Programs on Export Performance of Manufacturing Industries in Ethiopia

International trade is defined as economic transactions between countries worldwide. Encouraging the export promotion programs is critical for export performance of manufacturing industries. This study looks at how participating in the government's Export Promotion Program might assist enterprises to enhance their export performance. To achieve the study objectives a mixed research approach was used. The study investigated how 38 Ethiopian manufacturing firms, representing three industry sectors, obtained information about export promotion programs and their level of awareness of these programs. The data were collected with the help of questionnaire and interviews. The research model shows the impact of the Export Promotion Program (EPP) on the export performance of Ethiopian manufacturing exporters through its role in teaching marketing skills. The results of this study provided supporting evidence for the role of mediating some of the market capacity between the government EPPS and export performance. Keywords:Export Promotion Program, Marketing power, marketing strategies, export performance, policymakers. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-15-01 Publication date:August 31st 202

Analyzing the Effect of Export Promotion Programs on Export Performance of Manufacturing Industries in Ethiopia

International trade is defined as economic transactions between countries worldwide. Encouraging the export promotion programs is critical for export performance of manufacturing industries. This study looks at how participating in the government's Export Promotion Program might assist enterprises to enhance their export performance. To achieve the study objectives a mixed research approach was used. The study investigated how 38 Ethiopian manufacturing firms, representing three industry sectors, obtained information about export promotion programs and their level of awareness of these programs. The data were collected with the help of questionnaire and interviews. The research model shows the impact of the Export Promotion Program (EPP) on the export performance of Ethiopian manufacturing exporters through its role in teaching marketing skills. The results of this study provided supporting evidence for the role of mediating some of the market capacity between the government EPPS and export performance. Keywords:Export Promotion Program, Marketing power, marketing strategies, export performance, policymakers DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/13-21-04 Publication date: November 30th 202

Characterization and evaluation of Indigofera species as potential forage and cover crops for semi-arid and arid ecosystems

The potential of Indigofera species as forage and/or cover crops for semi-arid and arid environments was investigated in several experiments conducted on the Hatfield Experimental Farm in Pretoria, South Africa. Dormancy associated with hard seededness is the main constraint for uniform germination and large-scale propagation of these species. In this study, pretreatment increased germination in most accessions with scarification being more effective than boiling water treatment in six accessions, but not in the case of I. vohemarensis 8730. In five accessions (I. cryptantha 7067, I. brevicalyx 7517, I. arrecta 7524, I. spicata 8254 and I. vohemarensis 8730), scarification improved the total germination percentage, though it simultaneously resulted in higher seed mortality of I. brevicalyx 7517, I. arrecta 7524 and I. vohemarensis 8730 than in the control. In four accessions (I. brevicalyx 7517, I. arrecta 7524, I. vohemarensis 8730 and I. trita 10297), boiling water treatment improved germination percentage without causing any significant risk of seed mortality in the latter three species. In a field study, 41 Indigofera accessions were characterized in terms of morphological and agronomic parameters, using multivariate techniques to describe their phenotypic variability. Eight morpho-agronomic groups with various potentials were identified along with eight determinant characteristics that can be regarded as the core attributes for future Indigofera germplasm characterisation. Further evaluation of promising accessions revealed remarkable differences, both between and within species, in terms of plant height, canopy spread diameter, forage biomass, crude protein content, in vitro organic matter digestibility and indospicine level of the forage. These suggest the possibility of directly selecting accessions with forage potential for subsequent evaluation with target animals. The response of four selected Indigofera accessions under simulated moisture deficit stress and non-stress conditions exhibited significant variation. I. amorphoides was relatively sensitive while I. vicioides was able to maintain growth under water stress conditions, while the response of the two I. arrecta accessions were intermediate. The influence of season and species on forage quality was also studied. Spring growth had a significantly higher (P 0.05). The digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) and digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) of the sheep on Indigofera forage was similar to that of sheep fed Leucaena. In this study, lack of differences between Indigofera and Leucaena forage in terms of DOMI, DCPI and DNDFI means that Indigofera forage would likely support similar weight gains as that of Leucaena, but lower than that of M. sativa forage.Thesis (PhD (Plant Production: Pasture Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007.Plant Production and Soil Scienceunrestricte

Effect of non-encapsulated and encapsulated mimosa (Acacia mearnsii) tannins on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, methane and rumen fermentation of South African mutton Merino ram lambs

Please read abstract in the article.The National Research Foundation, South Africa and the University of Pretoria for a PhD research bursary.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/anifeedscihj2023Animal and Wildlife Science

Effects of graded levels of mimosa (Acacia mearnsii) tannin purified with organic solvents on gas, methane, and in vitro organic matter digestibility of Eragrostis curvula hay

The higher contribution of methane (CH4) to global anthropogenic potential is a cause of concern to livestock producers. Mimosa tannin gained recent acceptance as an additive for enteric CH4 mitigation. However, rumen fermentation and digestibility are compromised when large quantities of tannins are supplemented due to the presence of hydrolysable tannin and other non-tannin molecules in mimosa extract, which are toxic to animals. Purification could eliminate the toxins, and thus, reduce the CH4 yield without negative effects on rumen microbial activities and organic matter degradation. The Soxhlet extraction method was used to purify the tannin using organic solvents (ethyl acetate and pentanol). The unpurified, ethyl acetate purified, and pentanol purified tannins at the dosages of 10, 20, 30, and 40 g/kg DM of substrate (Eragrostis curvula hay) were evaluated for gas, CH4, and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) in comparison with substrate alone. Gas kinetics were tested using a simple exponential model with lag. The results showed that compared with control, gas, CH4, IVOMD, CH4/gas, CH4/IVOMD, gas/IVOMD, asymptotic gas volume (v), and rate of gas production (k) decreased (p < 0.01) linearly with the increase in the inclusion levels of all tannin extracts. Also, ethyl acetate purified and pentanol purified tannin extracts reduced gas and CH4 at lower dosage (30 g/kg DM) compared to unpurified tannin extract at a higher level (40 g/kg). Pentanol purified tannin was more effective at lower dosage (20 g/kg DM) in terms of CH4/gas and CH4/IVOMD. It was concluded that the purification of mimosa tannin with ethyl acetate and pentanol reduced potential gas production and CH4 without much reduction in substrate digestibility when up to 30 g/kg DM of feed was used. Lower inclusion levels of ethyl acetate and pentanol purified extracts could give a similar result with a higher dosage of unpurified tanninThe National Research Foundation (NRF) and a UP PhD bursary/University of Pretoria.http://www.mdpi.com/journal/animalsAnimal and Wildlife Science

Characterization, density and in vitro controlled release properties of mimosa (Acacia mearnsii) tannin encapsulated in palm and sunflower oils

Tannin has gained wider acceptance as a dietary supplement in contemporary animal nutrition investigations because of its potential to reduce enteric methane emission. However, a major drawback to dietary tannin intake is the bitter taste and instability in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The utilization of fats as coating materials will ensure appropriate masking of the tannin’s aversive taste and its delivery to the target site. The aims of this study were to encapsulate mimosa tannin with palm oil or sunflower oil, and to assess the microcapsules in terms of encapsulation efficiency, morphology, density, and in vitro release of tannin in media simulating the rumen (pH 5.6), abomasum (pH 2.9) and small intestine (pH 7.4). The microencapsulation of mimosa tannin in palm or sunflower oils was accomplished using a double emulsion technique. The results revealed that encapsulated mimosa tannins in palm oil (EMTP) and sunflower oil (EMTS) had high yields (59% vs. 58%) and encapsulation efficiencies (70% vs. 68%), respectively. Compared to unencapsulated mimosa tannin (UMT), the morphology showed that the encapsulated tannins were smaller in size and spherical in shape. The UMT had (p < 0.01) higher particle density (1.44 g/cm3) compared to 1.22 g/cm3 and 1.21 g/cm3 for the EMTS and EMTP, respectively. The proportion of tannins released by the UMT after 24 h in the rumen (94%), abomasum (92%) and small intestine (96%) simulated buffers, reduced (p < 0.01) to 24%, 21% and 19% for the EMTS and 18%, 20% and 16% for the EMTP in similar media and timeframe. The release kinetics for the encapsulated tannins was slow and steady, thus, best fitted by the Higuchi model while the UMT dissolved quickly, hence, only fitted to a First order model. Sequential tannin release also indicated that the EMTS and EMTP were stable across the GIT. It was concluded that the microencapsulation of mimosa tannin in palm or sunflower oils stabilized tannins release in the GIT simulated buffers with the potential to modify rumen fermentation. Further studies should be conducted on the palm and sunflower oils microcapsules’ lipid stability, fatty acid transfer rate in the GIT and antioxidant properties of the encapsulated tannins.The National Research Foundation, South Africa and the University of Pretoria.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/animalsam2022Animal and Wildlife Science

Partial replacements of Stylosanthes scabra forage for lucerne in total mixed ration diet of Saanen goats

The inclusion of Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca forage in the total mixed ration (TMR) as partial replacement of lucerne (alfalfa) was evaluated for its effects on voluntary feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in Saanen goats. Three experimental diets were formulated having 0 % Seca (T1), 15 % Seca (T2) and 30 % Seca (T3) as partial replacement of lucerne forage in the TMR diet for goats. Eighteen Saanen goats of about 7 months old were divided into three groups of six animals per group. Each group was randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments in a complete randomised design, and the study lasted for a period of 21 days. There was an increase in fibre and mineral content of the diets as Seca inclusion increased, but this resulted in the decrease of crude protein contents and in vitro organic matter digestibility. Animals that were fed 15 % Seca recorded higher voluntary dry matter and nutrient (organic matter and fibres) intake, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05) as compared to the other treatments. Nutrient digestibility as well as nitrogen balance was not significantly different across the three diets. The lack of significant differences in feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilisation following the inclusion of Seca in the TMR suggests that S. scabra forage can partially replace lucerne in the TMR diet of goats.Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and National Research Foundation (NRF).http://link.springer.com/journal/112502016-10-31hb201

In vitro methane production of eragrostis hay treated with graded levels of urea or nitrate

Urea treatment of protein deficient feeds serve as a source of ammonia nitrogen supply for rumen fermentation. This study was undertaken with the objective of determining the effect of treating Eragrostis curvula hay with varying levels of urea or nitrate on digestibility and in vitro fermentation. Grass hay was sprayed with urea solution at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% DM and calcium nitrate was used as a replacement of urea on an iso-nitrogenous basis. This was followed by 30 days anaerobic storage in airtight bottles with each treatment having three replicates. Following anaerobic treatment, hay samples were dried, milled and evaluated for their chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility, and in vitro fermentation and methane production. Feed treatment with both urea and nitrate reduced ADF content of hay, while crude protein content was increased. In vitro organic matter digestibility of treated hays increased with inclusion levels although urea recorded higher values than nitrate. Nitrate treatment significantly reduced in vitro methane by 14-33% while there was no significant methane reduction in the urea treated diets. Total volatile fatty acid, ammonia N and pH across treatments were statistically not different (P>0.05). While urea treatment seems to improve digestibility better, it did not confer additional benefits when compared to nitrate treatment that provided the additional benefit of methane reduction with an acceptable level of improvement in feed digestion and fermentation. Nitrate can thus be incorporated into feed treatment to improve the nutritional value of poor quality hays.The European Community’s Framework Program (FP7/2007– 2013) through the ANIMAL CHANGE project (grant agreement no. 266018), the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation.http://www.thejaps.org.pkam2019Animal and Wildlife Science

Long-Term Impacts of Stocking Rate on Soil Carbon Sequestration in Arid Areas of South Africa

Overstocking is one of the most important factors which results in changes of carbon stocks (Reeder and Schuman, 2002) and soil degradation, particularly in sandy soil, vulnerable to degradation through physical erosion. South African (RSA) topsoil is characterized by the low level of organic matter (Du Preez et al. 2011). Like most other African countries, little is known about the level of C sequestration under various grazing strategies in the vast dry grassland areas of RSA. It is well known that long-term studies with various stocking rate would be able to shed light on the level of C sequestration in varying soil types (Peneiro et al. 2010). Although studies have been undertaken concerning impacts of grazing on vegetation dynamics in RSA (Du Toit 2000), only few have focused on soil carbon stocks. Hence, this study was designed to assess impacts of long-term grazing at different stocking rate on carbon sequestration in Grootfontein, South Africa