Determinants of Agricultural Intensification: The Case of Kembata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Increases in population density lead to lower farm sizes which have major implications for agricultural intensification. Farmers in the Kembata Tambaro Zone are widely practicing crop intensification through intensive use of improved seed and chemical fertilizer. However, crop intensification is determined by different factors in the study area. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify the potential determinants of cereal intensification in KTZ. The data were collected from both primary and secondary sources through personal interview using structured questionnaire. The data were obtained from 252 sample household heads that were selected through a combination of purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The descriptive e statistics were used to examine the existing utilization of farm inputs and the yield obtained per hectare among three farm size categories. The finding of the study indicates that small farms use higher per hectare improved seed and fertilizer and earn more crop yield followed by medium farms while large farms utilize lower farm inputs and obtained the lowest yield implying that small farmers are the most efficient with highest yield per hectare. Multiple linear regression function (The linear form of Cobb-Douglas Production Function) was used to find out the determinants of major crops yield. The econometric analysis demonstrated that out of the total 20 variables included in the model, 10 variables including crop area, crop price, hired labor, quantity of fertilizer used, farming experience, age, education, market distance, non-farm income and development agent’s visit are the significant variables affecting major crops yield. The results of this study suggested that there is the need for strengthening a policy option that expands the agricultural extension services more efficiently and farming households’ access to market in the study area. In addition, improving the application and supply of agricultural inputs and enhancing non-farm income sources is extremely imperative. Keywords: Agricultural intensification, CDPF, land scarcity, farming households, determinants of major crops yield, Ethiopia

DRIVER DROWSINESS DETECTION BY USING WEBCAM

Drowsiness and fatigue are one of the main causes leading to road accidents. They can be prevented by taking effort to get enough sleep before driving, drink coffee or energy drink, or have a rest when the signs of drowsiness occur. The popular drowsiness detection method uses complex methods, such as EEG and ECG. This method has high accuracy for its measurement but it need to use contact measurement and it has many limitations on driver fatigue and drowsiness monitor [18]. Thus, it is not comfortable to be used in real time driving. This paper proposes a way to detect the drowsiness signs among drivers by measuring the eye closing rate and yawning

Orientasi Sikap Keusahawanan di Kalangan Pelajar Politeknik di Malaysia

Objektif kajian ialah untuk mengetahui orientasi sikap keusahawanan di kalangan pelajar politeknik di Malaysia serta mengenal pasti hubungan faktor demografi, latar belakang pendidikan, pengalaman responden, pendidikan ibubapa dan pekerjaan dengan orientasi sikap keusahawanan. Dalam konteks ini, masyarakat telah memberikan harapan yang tinggi kepada politeknik sebagai satu dari institusi pengajian yang utama untuk mengembangkan keusahawanan di kalangan pelajar. Isu mengenai sikap pelajar politeknik terhadap bidang keusahawanan telah mendapat perhatian di kalangan pendidik dan kerajaan. Untuk memahami dengan lebih jelas mengenai faktor-faktor yang boleh mempengaruhi orientasi sikap keusahawanan maka satu model pembentukan orientasi sikap keusahawanan telah dicadangkan. Dalam kajian ini instrumen ujian orientasi sikap keusahawanan dan soalselidik mengenai demografi responden telah digunakan. Kajian ini dibuat ke atas pelajar tahun akhir di enam buah politeknik di Malaysia. Walaupun pelajar dari keturunan Cina telah dikatakan mempunyai sikap keusahawanan yang tinggi kerana latar belakang keluarga, kajian ini tidak mendapati bahawa pelajar-pelajar dari keturunan Cina mempunyai orientasi sikap keusahawanan yang tinggi. Penemuan kajian ini telah memperlihatkan bahawa pelajar wanita, pelajar berasal dari kampung, anak petani dan pengalaman mengendalikan akaun adalah kumpulan pelajar yang mempunyai sikap keusahawanan yang tinggi. Mengenai hubungan di antara gred mata pelajaran di peringkat Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia dengan orientasi sikap keusahawanan pelajar, kajian ini mendapati bahawa gred mata pelajaran Bahasa Malaysia dan Matematik Tambahan mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan sikap keusahawanan yang tinggi

IMPROVING THE SKILLS OF STORY THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF THE GROUP INVESTIGATION LEARNING MODEL

The purpose of this study was to improve storytelling skills through the application of the Group Investigation learning model to VII grade students of Muhammadiyah Limbung Middle School. With a total of 24 students. Data collection techniques used in this study are: (a) students' learning outcomes in English are collected by giving tests at the end of each cycle, (b) data about the teaching and learning process are collected using observation sheets. The data that has been c0ollected is analyzed quantitatively. The results of the analysis showed an increase in quantitative learning outcomes marked by an increase in the average score of students, from 69.16 in the first cycle to 78.12 in the second cycle of an ideal score of 100. Qualitatively, an increase in the quality of the learning process is a change in the attitudes of students marked by: (a) Increasing the frequency of student attendance, (b) The activeness of students in the learning process, (c) The more students pay attention to the teacher's explanation, (d) The more students who ask questions and answer assignments correctly, (e) Increasingly less students who ask for guidance and ask to be explained about a concept

The Effect of Livelihood Diversification on Household Income: Evidence from Rural Ethiopia

Rural farm households are facing shortage of farm land due to population density. This has adversely affected livelihood activities in agriculture leading to low income. To overcome these problems, people tend to diversify their livelihood to improve household’s income. However, the relationship between livelihood diversification and household income of the rural households requires empirical quantification in the study area. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the effects of livelihood diversification on the household income. The data were collected from rural Ethiopia individual farmers through personal interview using structured questionnaire. The data were obtained from 252 sample household heads that were selected through a combination of purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The Composite Entropy Index (CEI) has been used for measuring livelihood diversification. Multiple regression model was applied to identify the determinant factors influencing the households’ level of livelihood diversification. Then 2SLS model was employed to detect the effects of CEI on household income. The results indicate that livelihood diversification has a positive and significant effect on household income at p < 0.0001. A 1.0% increase in livelihood diversification will lead to 3.9% increase in income signifying an elastic relationship. Owning higher number of livestock and larger size of farm land with better access to improved seed and family labor use helps rural households significantly improve their farm income in particular and household total income in general. Thus, the results of this study suggested that there is a need to develop a number of strategies to facilitate successful livelihood diversification and increase household income. This includes the development of rural infrastructure in terms of road connectivity, market, credit facility and input supply. Keywords: Livelihood diversification, Composite Entropy Index, Two-Stage Least Square model, household income, farm households, Kembata Tambaro Zone, Ethiopia

Patterns of Livelihood Diversification: The Case of Kembata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Population density has led to land scarcity in the rural farm households. This has adversely affected livelihood activities in agriculture leading to low income. Farm households in KTZ tend to rely on alternative income sources to improve their household income and increase agricultural production. However, the households level of livelihood diversification to different income sources beyond agriculture vary across land holding size. Thus, the aim of this article is to measure the level of diversification of farming household’s livelihood into non/off-farm activities in the study area. A huge amount of farm level primary data was collected from the study area individual farmers through personal interview using structured questionnaire. A total of 252 sample households who were selected through a combination of purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were retained for subsequent analysis. The finding of the survey result indicates that ninety seven percent of the respondents in the study area diversified in to non-farm activities. The study has also shown that non-farm income accounts for 53% total income of rural households in rural Ethiopia. The Composite Entropy Index has been used for measuring livelihood diversification. The livelihood diversification index of 0.260 (CV 94) showed that majority of the household heads undertook one form of livelihood diversification strategies or another. It has been argued that there is a significant difference (at 1% level of significance) among different farm size with respect to level of livelihood diversification. It is evident that livelihood diversification is the highest among small land holding groups and small holders derive a higher proportion of their income from non-farm sources than large farm holders. Therefore, the smallholder farm households’ participation in lucrative non-farm activities needs to be strengthened. Keywords: Livelihood diversification, Composite Entropy Index, level of livelihood diversification, rural farm households, land holding size, Kembata Tambaro Zone, Ethiopia

Determinants of Livelihood Diversification: The Case of Kembata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Population density has led to land scarcity in the rural farm households. This has adversely affected livelihood activities in agriculture leading to low income. For survival and sustenance, people tend to rely on multiple choices of non-farm activities to improve household’s income and intensify their agricultural production on small land. However, livelihood diversification is determined by different factors in the study area. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify the determinants of livelihood diversification strategies at household level. The data used for this study were collected from nine villages of Kembata Tambaro Zone through personal interview using structured questionnaire. The data were obtained from 252 sample households who were selected by the purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The finding of the survey result indicates that ninety seven percent of the respondents in the study area diversified in to non-farm activities. The Composite Entropy Index has been used for measuring livelihood diversification. The livelihood diversification index of 0.260 showed that majority of the household heads undertook one form of livelihood diversification strategies or another. Multiple regression model was applied to investigate the determinant factors influencing the households’ level of livelihood diversification. In this regard, the econometric analysis demonstrated that out of the total 15 variables included in the model, only 7 variables including age, education, number of non-farm activities, market distance, number of livestock, credit cost and farm size are found to be the significant determinants. The results of this study suggested that there is a need to develop a number of strategies for the smallholders to facilitate successful livelihood diversification. This includes the development of rural infrastructure in terms of road connectivity, market and credit facility. Hence, a comprehensive development plan including both agricultural intensification and non/off-farm diversification should be strengthened. Keywords: Livelihood diversification, Composite Entropy Index, multiple regression model, determinants of livelihood diversification, rural farm households, land scarcity, Ethiopia

Male and Female EFL Students’ Learning Style at Muhammadiyah University of Makassar

This study is intended to answer the main research questions related to the students’ learning style preferences that used dominantly by male and female students at Muhammadiyah University of Makassar in 2017/2018 academic years. Their gender differences in communication affect the students’ learning style. There were 20 students involved as the participants of the study which were selected by using convenient sampling. The data were collected by using three instruments: observation, diaries and questionnaire. Then, the data were analyzed by using mixed methods both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative data were obtained from observations and diaries while quantitative data were obtained from questionnaires. The procedures of data analysis consisted of data reduction, data display, and drawing conclusion or verification. The result of this study shows that the learning style that used dominantly by female students is kinesthetic learning style. Moreover, the data also showed that the male students tend to use auditory learning style. Whereas, in terms of individual and group learning style preference, there were no significant differences between male and female in working as a group and individual. In addition, there is an effect of gender difference in term of learning style because of the notions of male and female’s communication. The male students’ preferred auditory learning style because male students tended to enjoy and more active to learn by hearing music and short video as learning media. On the other hand, female students preferred kinesthetic learning style because they learn best by being involved physically in the classroom, such as learning by doing and learning by using games. These styles of learning are affected by the notions of gender differences in communication

Program Sedekad Jelajah Ramadan rai keluarga nelayan

PEKAN, 17 April - 74 keluarga nelayan diraikan dalam program Sedekad Jelajah Ramadan anjuran Pahangfm di Kampung Nenasi, di sini. Pada majlis tersebut, sumbangan turut diberikan kepada golongan warga emas dan asnaf

Peran Sistem Digital GoJek bagi Pelaku Usaha untuk Meningkatkan Permintaan Konsumen di Distrik Abepura Kota Jayapura

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui masalah dan upaya pelaku usaha dan peran sistem digital bagi pelaku usaha untuk meningkatkan permintaan konsumen di Distrik Abepura. Penelitian dilakukan pada tahun 2019-2022 pada 15 Driver Gojek  dan 85 Bisnis makanan di Distrik Abepura . Analisis data yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan masalah yang dihadapi pelaku usaha pada masa Covid-19 adalah penurunan pendapatan dan upaya yang dilakukan pelaku usaha untuk mengatasi masalah adalah dengan melalukan inovasi, penjualan online dan menjual makanan kekinian. Peran Aplikasi sistem digital sangat membantu dan meningkatkan permintaan konsumen driver gojek dan bisnis makanan di Distrik Abepura sebesar 30-50 persen . Tahun 2023  bisnis makanan dan minuman yang terdaftar di aplikasi gojek di wilayah Distrik Abepura sebanyak 175 usaha. Belum semua usaha menggunakan sistem digital atau penjualan secara online karena belum semua penjual memahami cara penjualan dengan sisem digital atau penjualan secara online. Program pendampingan kepada pelaku usaha diharapkan dapat dilakukan oleh pemerintah, dunia akademisi, pakar sehingga penggunakan sistem digital dapat digunakan  dengan cara  tepat.    This study aims to determine the problems and efforts of business actors and the role of digital systems for business actors to increase consumer demand in Abepura District. The research was conducted in 2019-2022 on 15 GoJek drivers and 85 food businesses in Abepura District. The data analysis used was descriptive qualitative. The results showed that the problem faced by business actors during the Covid-19 period was a decrease in income and the efforts made by business actors to overcome the problem were to innovate, sell daring and sell contemporary food. The role of digital system applications is very helpful and increases consumer demand for GoJek drivers and food businesses in Abepura District by 30-50 per cent. In 2023 the food and beverage business registered in the GoJek application in the Abepura District area was 175 businesses. Not all businesses use digital systems or daring sales because not all sellers understand how to sell with digital systems or daring sales. Mentoring programmes for business actors are expected to be carried out by the government, academia, experts so that the use of digital systems can be used in the right way