Impact of Productive Safety Net Program on Households’ Food Security: The Case of Zuway Dugda District Oromia National Regional State

Food insecurity is a major problem in developing countries and undermines people in various regions of the world. Productive Safety Net program is one of the largest social protection programs operating in Ethiopia. This study evaluates the impact of productive safety net program on households’ food security and asset building in Zuway Dugda District. The study employed random sampling to draw 2 rural kebles that are participating in the programme. Data was collected from 180 sampled households. The sample respondents were drawn from both program beneficiary and non-beneficiary households (90 each) randomly. The required data was generated from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected from household heads through structured interview schedule that was administered by trained enumerators. Pre-tested and validated questionnaire was also used. Pilot testing was conducted with 30 non-sample respondents assumed to have homogeneous characteristics. The study employed Descriptive statistics and econometric model to analysis data.  Results from Descriptive statistics indicate that program beneficiary households’ asset and calorie intake have increased. Applying a propensity score matching technique to estimate the econometric result; the study examined the independent effect of 12 variables and it was found out that 7 of them were important to characterize the participation. The study found that the program beneficiaries have more or less the same calorie intake to non-beneficiaries group. Concerning household asset the program beneficiary and non-beneficiary households have statistically significant difference after matching. The impact of the program on calorie intake and household asset on participating households create a great change regarding to food security. The program has promising impact on participants’ livelihood. It seems that the program establishes better future for participants and alleviates poverty. Hence, this has an encouraging message for program designers, implementers, and funding agents to take proper action to achieve the intended goals. Keywords: Productive Safety Net Program, Propensity Score Matching (PSM), Household Asse

Pre-Scaling Up of Hay-Box Brooding Technology to Selected Districts of Arsi and West Arsi Zones

The research was carried out in three purposively selected districts namely Digalu-Tijo from Arsi, Asasa and Adaba from west Arsi zones with objectives of transferring and popularizing hay-box chick brooding technology to farmers, and enhancing linkage between research, extension and farmers in the study areas. From these districts six peasant associations were purposively selected based on their accessibility from list of peasant associations. Then, a total of six groups one at each peasant associations which have an average of twenty members of farmers composed of male, female and youth were organized to undertake demonstration and popularization of hay-box chick brooder. A total of 92 farmers of which 54.36% were female farmers have attended the training. From each farmers research extension group one trial farmer was selected and a brooder having capacity of twenty chicks was given with twenty chicks bought from commercial firms in Bishoftu each including feeds that can serve for three months. Out of the total 121 chicks distributed to farmers only five died and around 96% grown up to layer stage which is six months of age. Mini-field-days where organized to share experiences and knowledge and all the farmers who attended the demonstration understood the double advantages of this technology reducing number of chicks died because of predator and save time that the broody hens spent to rear chicks. Keywords: Hay Box Chick Brooder, Demonstration, Popularization, Training DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-2-05 Publication date: January 31st 202

Pre-extension Demonstration of Animal Drawn Wheat Row Planter in Selected Districts of Arsi and West Arsi Zones

The demonstration work was conducted in two purposively selected districts namely Hetosa from Arsi and Asasa and Adaba from West Arsi zones with the objectives of evaluating the productivity and profitability of the wheat row planter under farmers’ management, creating awareness on the importance of the technology and improving farmers’ knowledge and use of the technology in the study areas. Six kebeles were purposively selected based on their accessibility. A total of 140 participant of which 113 (81%) were male and 27 (19%) female were participated on both theoretical and practical training on wheat row planter technology. A total of six trial farmers (One from each FREG) hosted demonstration of wheat row planter. The demonstration results revealed that on average planting wheat by wheat row planter have an advantage of reducing time from3.8 days to one day to plant one hectare of land by pair oxen. It also reduces labor required from 11.3persons to 3persons to complete one hectare of land. In addition to these, planting wheat by wheat row planter had yield advantage of four quintals over traditional one and reduced seed needed to plant one hectare of land from approximately 200kg to 134kg. The feedbacks obtained from participant farmers and other stakeholders also indicated that the technology is useful and applicable. Thus, based the findings, the wheat row planter technology was recommended for further scaling up. Keywords: Demonstration, Row planter, wheat DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-23-03 Publication date: December 31st 202