The dynamics of coexistence in annual plants

This thesis is about coexistence mechanisms in a guild of seven species of annual plants that inhabit dry, open, compacted ground in Silwood Park, Berkshire. Annual plants were chosen for the study because of the importance of obtaining whole-generation estimates of the vital rates, and because short-lived plants help/hold out the prospect of being able to assess the importance of year-to-year variation in the rates of recruitment, growth, survival and fecundity. The field work was carried out at Pound Hill for the seed bank experiment, at Walled Garden for the seed dispersal experiment and at Ashurst for the main experiment in Silwood Park, Berkshire. The location was chosen because the area was already fenced and beds were laid out for a previous pilot study experiment in 1996. The intention was to have a range of contrasting ecologies within our guild of annual plants. All species were capable of germination in autumn followed by over-winter survival as rosettes, and then rapid growth and early seed set in spring. Some species were immediately precluded from consideration as a result of their thuggish behaviour in the pilot studies. The final choice consisted of a grass (Aira praecox), a legume (Ornithopus perpusillus), three contrasting herbs (Myosotis discolor (Boraginaceae), Cerastium glomeratum (Caryophyllaceae) and Veronica arvensis (Scrophulariaceae)), and two tiny crucifers (Erophila verna and Arabidopsis thaliana). All were locally frequent on gravel paths and other compacted open habitats within Silwood Park. The thesis describes 7 separate replicated experiments, each carried out over 5 years: monocultures of each of the seven species; saturation sowing; two-species mixtures (21 of them) and multispecies mixtures. I show clear pattern of year effects in both inter and intra-specific density dependence. The time series experiments are backed up by quantification of seed dispersal and seed bank dynamics

Determinants of Farmers’ Preference to Coffee Market Outlet in Jimma Zone: The Case of Coffee Potential Districts

Background and objective: Choice of a marketing outlet is one of the key ingredients to successful marketing of both agricultural and non-agricultural products. The aim of the study was to show determinants of coffee farmers’ preference of coffee market outlet in Southwest Ethiopia/Jimma zone. Methodology: Cross-sectional data was collected from 156 randomly selected rural households of three Districts. Structured questionnaire prepared for household heads were filled by the help of selected and well trained enumerators. The study used multinomial logistic regression model to determine factors determining coffee market outlet preference. Results: Informal buyers, formal traders, brokers and cooperatives were four main coffee market outlet exist on the study area. Multinomial logistic regression result shows that number of extension visit has positive and significant effect on the preference of formal red coffee markets and transport cost to the main market has negative and significant impact on formal traders preference relative to informal buyers. Distance to cooperatives has negative and significant effect on the preference of farmers for cooperatives and number of visit by extensionists has negative and significant effect on formal dry coffee markets and brokers and positive and significant effect on cooperatives as compared to informal market.Recommendations: Based on the main findings the study recommended extensionists to aware coffee producers to choose good market outlets such as cooperatives for efficient and profitable marketing of coffee and recommended the government to increase the access of cooperatives and the improvement of the infrastructure to enhance coffee marketing. Keywords: Marketing outlet, Cross sectional, Multinomial logistic, Formal traders, Informal buyers, Broker

Effects of Diferent Rates of NPK and Blended Fertilizers on Nutrient Uptake and Use Efficiency of Teff [Eragrostis Tef (Zuccagni) Trotter] in Dedessa District, Southwestern Ethiopia

Teff is a major staple food crop in Ethiopia whose yield is constrained by plant lodging, declining soil fertility due to nutrient depletion caused by farming without replenishing nutrients over time, leaching due to inadequate runoff management, removal of crop residue, low level of fertilizer use and unbalanced application of nutrients. Teff is well adapted to highland soils. Yields are low (in average about 1280 kg ha-1) even though fertilization with recommended rate of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers is applied. This experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating different rates of NPK, and Zn and B blended fertilizers on yield, nutrient uptake (N, P, K and Zn) and nutrient use efficiency of teff crops, during 2013 main cropping season in Dedessa District of southwestern Ethiopia. The local variety of Gero was used as a test crop and 14 treatments (11 different rates of NPK, 2 blended fertilizers and unfertilized plot) were used and laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Results showed that grain and straw yield; nutrient (N, P, K and Zn) uptake and nutrient use efficiency was varied through all treatments significantly. The maximum yields (grain: 2147.7 kg ha-1 and straw: 5852.8 kg ha-1); the highest total nitrogen uptake, phosphorus uptake, potassium uptake and zinc uptake; excellent agronomic efficiency and apparent nutrient recovery were recorded with the application of 200kg ha-1 of 14N 21P2O5 15K2O 6.5S 1.3Zn 0.5B + 23 kg N ha-1. These results should be reflected primary until further work is done, either at several locations or at various seasons, for confirmation. Therefore, taking the findings of the present study in to consideration it may be concluding that farmers can be use 200kg ha-1 of 14N 21P2O5 15K2O 6.5S 1.3Zn 0.5B + 23 kg N ha-1 to improve nutrient uptake and fertilizer use efficiency, which are leads  to yield increment. Key words: Teff, zinc and boron blended fertilizer, NPK, yield, nutrient uptake and use efficienc

Dynamics of Financing Structure & Financial Performance of Ethiopian Micro Banks (MFIs)

Studies indicates that the financing structure of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have significant impact on the performance of these organizations. Hence, studying the factors that drive the financial structure of these organizations is imperative. Although the financial structure of financial firms have been studied by some scholars, such types of studies are rare in the MFI sector. Thus the purpose of this study is to investigate the factors of financial structure in the Ethiopia industry and relate to the performance MFI. To accomplish the objective of the study a qualitative research design is employed. The researcher used data of 15 sample MFIs that fulfill the criteria of data availability from the NBE database covering the period of 2003–2009 and additional data is also obtained by interviewing key informants MFI industry. This includes finance managers of sample MFIs, financial analysts of AEMFI and supervisory authority of Ethiopian MFIs division in the NBE. The results show there exists positive and significant correlations between profitability and leverage, size of MFI, growth of MFI, the size of MFI and their growth rate. There could also be policies intended to encourage and creating conducive environment for MFIs to utilize debt as a viable source of finance in the era of increased commercialization of microfinance to meet their financial objective. Finally, focus should be placed on the relationship between ownership and governance structure and their effects on the capital structure on MFIs industry left for further studies to be conducted in the future. Keywords: Factors, Financing Structure, MFI, Ethiopi

An economic analysis of household farm production in the Arssi region of Ethiopia: cases from Chilalo province

This dissertation is concerned with the problem of low productivity and deficiency in the agricultural sector as it results in low farm income and rural poverty in the Ethiopian economy. This problem is of central concern for national economic development since agriculture which comprises 85% of the population forms the backbone of the country\u27s economy. The prescriptive hypothesis made as a potential strategy for solving this crucial problem is that farm productivity can be increased by: (a) a more efficient use of traditional farm inputs and improvements in management capabilities of farmers that results in better planning and efficient resource allocation; (b) introduction of new and improved labor intensive technology in the form of improved plow and harrow for better soil cultivation and the use of fertilizer and improved seed that increase crop yields; (c) increased supply of operating capital to farmers in order to complement efficient allocation of traditional farm inputs and to make the use of new crop technology viable; and (d) availability of additional labor in hired and/or cooperative form during critical operations such as weeding, harvesting, and threshing to complement household labor;The findings which are obtained using the methods of linear and parametric programming applied to data on four average farms located in the four sub-areas of Chilalo province are qualitatively as follows: a considerable gap exists between the actual and optimal farm resource use and income on average farms and that substantial increases in productivity and farm income can be made if traditional resources are optimally used. Land is not a limiting resource to farm productivity after land reform, however before the March 1975 Revolutionary Land Reform, the average land cultivated by the majority of tenant farmers was less than 2 hectares. This quantity is less than optimal and therefore one of the major hindrances to improved farm productivity and income under the deposed feudal regime of Haile Selassie. Scarcity of labor during critical periods of harvesting, weeding and threshing limits farm income and productivity. Additional labor availability in hired and/or cooperative form enhances farm income and productivity. At high capital supply levels (K(,3) and K(,4)), the new technology is more efficient in production but at low capital levels (K(,1) and K(,2)) traditional technology becomes more efficient. Increasing capital supply levels from K(,1) = 75 B to K(,4) = 500 B results in increased net return per unit of labor, land, and capital on the four average farms. The results also show that the marginal value productivity schedules for capital are less elastic under traditional technology than when the traditional and new production technologies are combined. Furthermore, under the later alternative, the demand for capital is more elastic if hired labor is available in addition to household labor than if household labor is used exclusively in the production process

Formulation of Mixed Probiotic Starter Culture for the Production and Extending the Shelf Life of Ergo (Spontaneously Fermented Milk)

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer a beneficial effect on the host when administered in enough amounts and in appropriate conditions. They can modulate the intestinal biome of the consumer. This study aimed to formulate probiotic starter culture and evaluating their antagonistic effect on some foodborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogen. The study also aimed at evaluating the impact of the formulated starter cultures on the sensory acceptability and shelf life of ergo. Accordingly, seven lactic acid bacteria L. rhamnosus(GB-15), L. paracasei(SB-7),  L. reuteriG-23), L. sake(BB-60), L. curvatus(NZ-44) L. plantarum(NN-33), L. casei(BZ-26) and one yeast species S. cerevisiae (Y-72) were used. The selected isolates were combined in different proportions to formulate the starter cultures for the production of ergo. Nine formulations were made in different proportions based on the compatibility of the isolates. Ergo prepared in this study was observed to have a pH of 3.99 - 4.38 with titratable acidity of 0.60 - 0.97 after 48 hrs of fermentation. The formulate F2 (GB-15,G-23, NZ-44, BB-33, NZ-26, Y-72) and F6 (GB-15, BB-60,NZ-44,NZ-26,Y-72) showed complete inhibition against all the test pathogens after 48 hrs of fermentation, except for Staphylococcus aurous with F6. The ergo products with starter culture formulate F2, F4 and, F6 were found to have better overall sensory acceptability with a mean score value of 3.75, 3.56, 3.73, and 4.03/5.00, respectively. Ergo products with formulate F2and F6 had a shelf life of more than 12 days and 15 days, respectively, at an ambient temperature of 18-24oC. Our starter culture formulates in addition to retaining the typical sensory quality of homemade ergo, they improved the shelf life and safety of the product. Keywords: Bio-protective; Ergo; Probiotics; Shelf life; Starter Culture DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/13-6-02 Publication date:March 31st 202

Concepts and Perspectives from the Economics of Sustainable Development: Views of Economists and their Policy Implications for Ethiopia and the Rest Africa

Sustainable development is a concept about the relationship between economic growth and the environment. The term was first used in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (also known as the Brundtland Commission for its Chair, Gro Harlem Brundtland). In the Commssion’s report, “our common Future”, it defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987. The aim of this paper is to explore the various dimensions of sustainability from an economic perspective by focusing on issues such as: neglected aspects of sustainability, conflict and inequality, scientific constraints on sustainable agriculture, population growth, the relationship between property rights and environmental sustainability, and sustainable natural resource management. The paper draws policy implications for Ethiopia and the rest of Africa, by reviewing the views of six eminent economists and others on these issues of sustainable development

The Economics of Sustainable Development

This title provides an economic perspective on critical issues that characterize the topic of sustainable development. In each case, the authors give hope that the challenges facing societies can be surmounted and millions can be lifted out of poverty by adopting policies that encourage the investment in human capital, democratic institutions, and improved market performance.https://research.upjohn.org/up_press/1170/thumbnail.jp