Review on Live Animal and Meat Value Chain in Ethiopia: Challenges, Opportunities and Intervention Strategies

Livestock and meat products are among the fastest growing components of the global agriculture and food industry and one of a few agricultural commodities in Ethiopia from which the country earn foreign currency. Even though the country is ranked first in Africa and tenth in the world by livestock population, its share in global export market is quite small. This review paper is aimed to compile the existing literature on live animal and meat value chain; opportunities and challenges along the chain; and identify the leverage points and suggest upgrading strategies for live animal and meat value chain in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian meat and live animal value chain is characterized by series of complex constituents involving various actors including input suppliers, producers, collectors, fatteners/feedlots, middlemen, cooperatives, traders, live animal exporters, abattoirs, butchers, hotels and individual consumers. The country has a number of opportunities for livestock and meat market due to its strategic location, sound climatic condition, huge livestock resources and increase in domestic and foreign demand. Despite the emerging opportunities, the existing livestock and livestock products value chain are under developed due to different challenges. The main challenges faced by live animal and meat value chain actors are shortage of feed, diseases, low technology uptake, weak policies, weak financing, price fluctuation, non-market orientation, lack of weighing facilities, late payment in transactions, unreliability of supply and low quality of meat, illegal trade, lose across value chain and poor linkages between value chain actors. From this review it has been recommended that improving infrastructure specially opening secondary market at potential fattening areas, providing awareness for pastoralists on market-oriented production, supporting cooperatives, introducing a standard unit in livestock market, provision of reliable market information for pastoralists, strengthening market linkage, creation of regulatory mechanism for livestock brokers and illegal trade, value addition, innovative product development, cost-effective marketing channels and improving competitiveness of the products in export markets are important along Ethiopian live animal and meat value chains. Keywords: Challenges, Live Animal, Meat, Opportunities, Value Chain DOI: 10.7176/IEL/9-3-04 Publication date: April 30th 201

A preliminary Geological and Generalized Stratigraphy of Western Margin of Northern Afar Depression, Dallol Area, Northern Ethiopia

The western margin of northern Afar Depression constitutes various rock units of Neoproterozoic basement complex, Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary successions and the Oligocene to present volcano-sedimentary sequences. As part of a reconnaissance survey for mineral resources in selected districts of Afar region, a geological and structural map of Dallol area has been produced with the help of the Landsat Thematic Mapper Plus imagery at a scale of 1:100,000 and a simplified stratigraphy is constructed for the western rift margin, Dallol area.Keywords: Geology, Stratigraphy, Western Rift Margin, Dallol, Northern Afar Depression, Ethiopia

Geochemistry of metavolcanics and granitic intrusive from western margin of northern afar depression, Dallol, Northern Ethiopia

The western margin of northern Afar Depression constitutes various rock units of Neoproterozoic basement complex. Major oxide data of metavolcanic and granitoid rock samples from basement complex indicate significant variation in the concentration of major oxides (e.g. Fe2O3, TiO2, CaO, MgO). Metavolcanic rocks of Dallol demonstrate heterogeneous nature of magma source. The mafic metavolcanics indicate two distinct groups, (i) CaO-enriched and (ii) tholeiitic composition. Another group of magmatic series, the felsic metavolcanic group, shows a co-genetic relationship with the tholeiitic metavolcanics. Granitoids on the other hand have a wider range of SiO2 (61.5 – 76.65 wt %) and are peraluminous to metaluminous in nature.Keywords: Geochemistry, Metavolcanics, Granitioids, Dallol, Northern Afar Depression, Ethiopia

The Role of Small Scale Irrigation to Household Food Security in Ethiopia: A Review Paper

Ethiopia has been highly affected by drought and climate-related hazards, and millions of people have been left without sustenance every year. Irrigation as an agricultural intensification plays key role in increasing agricultural production and productivity. The Government of Ethiopia has identified small-scale irrigation as an important component of adaptation. This review paper is aimed to compile the existing literature on the role of small-scale irrigation scheme on the rural household food security and factors affecting the households’ food security in the country. The country is blessed with abundant water resources and believed to have the potential of 5.1 million hectares of land that could be developed for irrigation. However, about 3% to 5% of the irrigable land was irrigated currently. Irrigation in Ethiopia is considered as a basic strategy to alleviate poverty and hence improve food security. It is useful to transform the rain-fed agricultural system that depends on rainfall into the combined rain-fed and irrigation agricultural system. Irrigated agriculture is becoming increasingly important in meeting the demands of food security, employment, rural transformation and poverty reduction. For Ethiopia, increase in agricultural production through diversification and intensification of crops grown, increased household income because of on/off/non-farm employment, source of animal feed, improving human health due to balanced diet and easy access and utilization for medication, soil and ecology degradation prevention and asset ownership are contributions of small scale irrigation. The value of per hectare crop production under irrigated settings is about twice that of under rain-fed settings. Household income and consumption are much higher in irrigated settings than in rain-fed settings. Hence, it was concluded that irrigation has positive role on the rural farming households’ food security, and it should be a policy priority in Ethiopia for rural poverty alleviation, climate change adaptation and overall economic growth. Keywords: Food security, Small-scale irrigation, Role DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/60-03 Publication date:October 31st 201

Demographic and Health-related Risk Factors of Subclinical Vitamin A Deficiency in Ethiopia

The study was conducted to determine the demographic and health-related risk factors of subclinical vitamin A deficiency in Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected from 996 children in 210 clusters across the nation for analysis of serum retinol. Interviews were conducted with the respective mothers of the 996 children on presumed risk factors of vitamin A deficiency. A higher subclinical vitamin A deficiency was associated with: not receiving vitamin A supplement over the year, having been ill during the two weeks preceding the survey, no or incomplete vaccination, belonging to a mother with high parity, and low levels of awareness of vitamin A. Moreover, being from Muslim household was strongly associated with higher levels of subclinical vitamin A deficiency. Among the risk factors identified, low levels of vaccination, high parity, and low levels of maternal awareness of vitamin A contributed to higher risks of vitamin A deficiency among Muslim children. The findings underscore the need for creation of strengthened awareness of family planning and importance of vitamin A, promotion of vaccination and child health, intensification of vitamin A supplementation, and in-depth investigation on factors contributing to increased vulnerability of Muslim children

Structural and Calorimetric Studies of Zinc, Magnesium and Manganese Based Phosphate and Phosphate-Silicate Glasses

Glasses of the (50-x/2)Na2O-xMO-(50-x/2)P2O5 (M = Zn, Mg or Mn) (0 ≤ x ≤ 33 mol%), (50-x)Na2O-xMO-50P2O5 (M = Zn, Mn) (0 ≤ x ≤ 33 mol%), and (0.9-x)NaPO3-xSiO2-0.1ZnO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1 mol) were prepared by the melt quenching technique. Samples were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, Archimede’s method, ellipsometry, Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR), Raman, 31P solid state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR), UV-visible spectroscopy and calorimetry. For zinc, manganese and magnesium phosphate glasses, the increase in density with the addition of MO oxide suggests the compactness of the vitreous network. For zinc phosphate silicate glasses, the variations of density and refractive index were attributed to the structural changes when SiO2 oxide is progressively introduced. The increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg) reflects an increase in the cross-link strength of the structure as MO and SiO2 oxides are gradually incorporated. For all glass composition, spectroscopic investigations revealed the depolymerization of metaphosphate chains (Q2) allowing the formation of phosphate dimers (Q1). Calorimetric dissolution shows that the dissolution is endothermic for lower MO content and become exothermic when x rises. For (50-x/2)Na2O-xZnO-(50-x/2)P2O5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 33 mol%) glasses, the formation enthalpy increases with the incorporation of ZnO oxide

Guest editorial : In Journal of networks, v.6 n.1

In recent years, networking of computing devices has been going through rapid evolution and thus continuing to be an ever expanding area of importance. Different technologies, protocols, services and usage patterns have contributed to the major research interests in this area of computer science. The current special issue is an effort to bring forward some of these interesting developments that are being pursued by researchers at present in different parts of the globe. Our objective is to provide the readership with some insight into the latest innovations in computer networking through this

Halal tourism: Definitional, conceptual and practical ambiguities

Halal tourism becomes the most dynamic and fast-growing niche in the tourism industry. However, the lack of consensus on the definition, concepts and implementations of halal tourism has pollarded its development. Academics in scientific researches, destination marketers and practitioners in the industry widely employ the phrases “halal tourism” and “Islamic tourism” interchangeably to denote tourism products and services addressing halal conscious travelers’ needs. These ambiguities pose challenges and practical problems in the academic literature and in the industry. The main purpose of this study is, therefore, to appraise the conceptual and practical usage of the phrases halal tourism and Islamic tourism in academia and in industry, and recommend the appropriate position of these terminologies. This paper also seeks to propose cogent definitions of halal tourism and Islamic tourism. The study begins by analyzing the distinctions between halal tourism and Islamic tourism. In the course of the study, firstly, the definitions and concepts of tourism, Islamic tourism, and halal tourism were well examined. The difference between Islamic tourism and halal tourism is emphasized at second. The existing literature was consulted. On top of that, the opinions of tourism experts were gathered through Delphi Technique. The data were extracted from a theoretical review and experts’ view within the realm of qualitative research methods. A critical literature review was conducted based on the journal article found in Elsevier, Web of Science and Scopus databases. Moreover, to probe propose definitions for halal tourism and Islamic tourism, tourism experts were also consulted. The finding of this study reveals that there are ambiguities and misunderstandings over these two terminologies among both the academics and practitioners. Despite the fact that they have commonalities especially in using halal products and services, Islamic tourism and halal tourism have unequivocal differences. Their difference lies in the objective and intention of the visitations. Besides the conceptual complications, challenges practically facing the industry are also assessed in the stud

CYP2J2∗7 Genotype Predicts Risk of Chemotherapy-Induced Hematologic Toxicity and Reduced Relative Dose Intensity in Ethiopian Breast Cancer Patients

Chemotherapy-induced hematologic toxicity is the primary reasons of dose reductions and/or delays, low relative dose intensity (RDI), and predicts anticancer response. We investigated the incidence and predictors of chemotherapy-induced hematologic toxicities and reduced RDI in Ethiopian breast cancer patients, and implication of pharmacogenetics variations. Breast cancer patients (n = 249) were enrolled prospectively to receive cyclophosphamide based chemotherapy. Hematological toxicity (neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia) were monitored throughout chemotherapy cycle. The primary and secondary outcomes were incidence of grade 3 or 4 toxicity and reduced RDI, respectively. CYP2B6∗6, CYP3A5∗3, CYP2C9 (∗2,∗3), CYP2C19 (∗2,∗3), CYP2J2∗7, POR∗28, and ABCB1 (rs3842) genotyping were done. Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression were used to estimate risk predictors of toxicity and reduced RDI, respectively. Majority (73.5%) of the patients were < 45 years of age. The incidence of grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity was 51.0% (95% CI = 44.54–57.46%). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression indicated CYP2J2∗7 genotype [Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.14–2.90], pretreatment grade 1 leukopenia (HR = 2.75; 95% CI = 1.47–5.15) or grade 1 or 2 neutropenia (HR = 2.75; 95% CI = 1.73–4.35) as significant predictors of hematologic toxicities. The odds of having hematologic toxicities was lower in CYP2C9∗2 or ∗3 carriers (p = 0.024). The prevalence of reduced RDI was 56.6% (95% CI = 50.3–62.9%). Higher risk of reduced RDI was associated with CYP2J2∗7 allele [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.79; 95% CI = 1.21–6.46], BMI ≤ 18.4 kg/m2 (AOR = 5.98; 95% CI = 1.36–26.23), baseline grade 1 leukopenia (AOR = 6.09; 95% CI = 1.24–29.98), and baseline neutropenia (AOR = 3.37; 95% CI = 1.41–8.05). The odds of receiving reduced RDI was lower in patients with CYP2B6 ∗6/∗6 genotype (AOR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.06–0.77). We report high incidence of chemotherapy-induced hematological toxicities causing larger proportion of patients to receive reduced RDI in Ethiopian breast cancer patients. Patients carrying CYP2J2∗7 allele and low baseline blood counts are at a higher risk for chemotherapy-induced hematologic toxicities and receiving reduced RDI, and may require prior support and close follow up during chemotherapy

Bibliography of the Literatures on Tuberculosis, TB/HIV and MDRTB in Ethiopia from 2001 – 2017

Ethiopia is among the thirty-high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries with multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and Tuberculosis/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (TB/HIV). Given the public health importance of the problem, it is apparent that probing the work done in this regard is essential to mitigate the problem and thus we reviewed research repositories and compile directories of researches in Ethiopia from Jan 1, 2001 to Dec 30, 2017 in order to avail evidence-based information to stakeholders and beneficiaries intervening the problem in the country. The evidences generated in this bibliography are through different databases and websites using key terms. A range of different published and unpublished literatures (journal articles, conference presentations, reports/manual/book, and graduate theses or dissertations) on TB, MDR-TB, extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB), or TB/HIV are presented. We presented literatures by four themes (Biomedical and clinical researches, epidemiological researches, operational or implementation researches, and health systems researches). A total of 1571 researches and reports were accessed through the above search engines and revealed 635 epidemiological researches followed by 538 clinical or biomedical researches, 257 operational or implementation research, and 141 health systems research. Interestingly, up to 2008 clinical or biomedical researchers were the leading researches and from 2009 onwards, epidemiological researches held the largest constituency. In conclusion, TB or TB/HIV and MDR-TB literatures in Ethiopia have substantially increased over years. Referred journal publications took theleading source and epidemiologic studies were the commonest one. We suggest the need to focus on operational or implementation and health system researches to plummet the disease spreading, drug resistance and impact. We also recommend a regular update of the bibliography every 3 to 4 years with annotations