Tenure Insecurity, Transaction Costs in the Land Lease Market and their Implications for Gendered Productivity Differentials

This study sets out to assess the link between land leasing behavior and productivity differentials between male and female-headed households. A double-moral hazard model allows us to show that landlord's tenure insecurity leads to sub-optimal level of effort on tenant's part, via its impact on the likelihood of contract renewal. The landlord's enforcement ability is also shown to increase the optimal level of effort. The empirical findings support the hypothesis that female heads of households have higher tenant turnover and lower enforcement ability. The results, however, show that contract renewal is not strongly linked to productivity.productivity, female headed households, contract length, enforcement ability, Land Economics/Use, D2, Q12, Q15, C21, C7,

Sexual Risk Taking Among Young Adults in Cape Town: Effects of Expected Health and Income

The wide prevalence of HIV in Africa has long been associated with seemingly irrational levels of sexual risk taking. Hence understanding the rationale behind risky sexual behavior is critical for designing effective prevention policies. This paper empirically assesses links between expectations of future health and income on sexual risk taking. An important contribution of the paper lies in combining a wide range of variables measuring risky sexual behavior such that the maximum information possible is extracted from, and adequate weights are attached to each measure, as opposed to previous studies that are based on individual measures or arbitrary aggregations. The findings indicate that expected income and health and future uncertainty are significant determinants of current patterns of sexual risk taking. From a policy perspective, the results suggest that reducing poverty and improving social insurance as well as reducing the taboo related to talking about HIV, and further investigating the relatively low degree of condom use of women may constitute important issues to be addressed.

Soil Fertility Status as Affected by Different Land Use Types and Topographic Positions: A Case of Delta Sub-Watershed, Southwestern Ethiopia

This study was aimed at assessing the status of soil properties  under Enset (Enset ventricosum) farm, grazing and cultivated land from upper, middle and lower slope positions (15-25%, 8-15% and 3-8% slope) in Delta sub-watershed of Southwestern Ethiopia. Split block design was employed.  A total of 54 soil samples, from 3 slope positions x 3 land use types (treatments) x 2 depths (0-20 and 20-40cm)  x 3 replications, were collected and used to test for soil chemical properties. For soil physical properties assessment, 27 soil samples were collected from 0-20cm soil depth by using simple random sampling technique. The result from several soil chemical parameters revealed that  OC, TN, C/N, AvP, CEC, exchangeable bases (K+, Mg+2, Ca+2 and Na+), ESP, PBS were significantly lower (p<0.001) in both depths of cultivated land and upper slope position than in respective slope positions of the other two land use types. However, average soil EC and pH did not show variation with both slope positions and land use types. The result also showed that soil physical property parameters such as soil bulk density, soil moisture and clay content in grazing lands were significantly higher (p<0.001). In contrast, total porosity and silt content were relatively lower in grazing land. From this finding, it can be concluded that there needs to be a look into not only land use types but also slope positions in developing land use planning and soil management strategies in this region. Keywords: slope gradient, land use change, soil depth, soil propertie

Upper Primary School Basic Science Curriculum Materials Development Process in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to explore upper primary school basic science curriculum materials development process in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. For the purpose of this study, qualitative research method, more specifically, case study design was used.  Non-probability purposive sampling techniques was used to select participants from various groups. To this effect, sample of five basic science curriculum experts were selected and used as a sample of the study. Interview guides and document analysis were employed to gather information.  Qualitative data analysis method was used to analyze the data. Qualitative data were analyzed through narrative description and direct quotations of the opinions of the participants. The result of data analyses revealed that curriculum experts from the Oromia Region Education Bureau, representatives from the Ministry of Education, representatives from colleges and universities were involved in the process of curriculum development. However, concerned bodies from primary school teachers, students, parents, who are the main actors of curriculum implementers were not involved in the process of curriculum development in Oromia Regional State. The study also revealed that no clearly defined model was used for the development and the selection of the components of the basic science curriculum in the upper primary in Oromia Regional State.  Based on the findings, it is recommended that policy makers and curriculum developers in the region reconsider and revisit the developed upper primary school basic science curriculum materials currently implemented in Oromia regional state. Keywords: Curriculum, Curriculum materials, Curriculum development, Basic science and Upper primary school. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-1-0

Yield Response of Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) to NPS and Urea Fertilizers Rates at Alicho Wuriro Highland, Southern Ethiopia

Barley can be cultivated and gives better yields in a large number of environmental conditions, except in extreme high rainfall areas which limit the yields. The experiment was conducted at Alicho wuriro highland with the objective of determining the effect of determining the optimum rate of NPS and urea fertilizers rates on yield of food barley in 2016 and 2017. The soil is clay loam with pH 4.8, 0.308% N, 3.2 mg/L P, 11.2 mg/L K and 2.4% OC. Two factors, NPS rates (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha) and urea (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha) were combined in 5x3 factorial arrangements of RCBD in three replications. The grain yield was significantly affected due to NPS and urea fertilizers rates. The highest significant economic yield was obtained at the combination of 200 kg/ha NPS and 100 kg/ha urea as compared to other rates in both years. Generally, applications of 200 kg/ha NPS and 100 kg/ha is advised around Alicho wuriro highland. Keywords: Food barley, NPS, urea, grain yiel