Food Price Volatility in Ethiopia: Public Pressure and State Response

The global market, variable agricultural production and irregular trading practices have marked food price volatility in Ethiopia over the last decade. However, the recent decline in global prices of food and fuel, coupled with state intervention in managing the supply of consumer goods, have brought some stability to food prices in 2014/15. While the safety net and price control measures could help mitigate the aggravation of impacts of food price increases on poor families, a more comprehensive food security approach is necessary. The article argues the importance of enhancing the purchasing power of the people

Factors Affecting Milk Market Supply and Level of Supply by Smallholder Milk Producers: The Case of Dessie Zuria District, South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Dessie Zuria District of South Wollo Zone, Northern Ethiopia with the specific objectives of analyzing determinants of milk market supply. A two stage sampling procedure was applied to select sample milk producer households of the study area. In the first stage, 12 potential milk producer kebeles were purposively selected out of 37 administrative kebeles of the district based on their level of milk production. Then, a total of 6 sample kebeles were selected randomly. In the second stage, 100 sample smallholder milk producers were selected from those 6 randomly selected kebeles and both qualitative and quantitative types of data were collected. Secondary data were collected from journals, reports and documents used in the study area. Primary data were collected from individual smallholder milk producers, key informants and focus group discussions using both structured and semi-structured types of questionnaires. Data analysis was performed both by descriptive and econometric analysis employing STATA version 12 software. Factors determining participation of milk market supply was analyzed using Heckman two stage estimation model and the results of first stage/probit regression model showed that both decision of participation and level of participation of households in milk market supply were affected significantly by age of the household, educational level, number of milking cows owned, distance from market/urban centres and technical training. Decision of participation of households in milk market supply was also affected significantly by access to credit whereas level of participation was affected significantly by sex of the household, family size and access to market information. Thus, it is suggested that strengthening of participation of smallholder milk producers in milk market supply via capacity improvement and enhanced access of appropriate technical support service provision. Keywords: Heckman two stage model, Milk, Market suppl

Outstanding Performance of Recently Released Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Variety (Yadanno) and Other Linseed Lines in South Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia

Yadanno is a common name for the linseed variety developed through hybridization and continuous selections using pedigree method. Yadanno was selected, developed and released by Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center for Arsi and West Arsi Zones and similar agro-ecologies of linseed growing areas of Ethiopia. Specifically, it was tested at Kulumsa, Bekoji, Asasa and Kofele for three years (2010/11 to 2012/13) and verified in 2014/15 at listed locations for 2016 official release. As a result, Yadanno consistently produced better mean seed and oil yields than the standard check (Kulumsa-1) and the local check over three years. Likewise, it proved to be resistant to wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lini), powdery mildew (Oidium sp.) and pasmo (Septoria linicola) diseases. The results of the multi-location trials revealed that Yadanno was superior in seed and oil yields performance across years and locations. Besides, it is stable variety based upon different stability parameters. Keywords: Edible Oil; Yadanno; Linseed; Variety registration DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-7-05 Publication date: April 30th 201

Potato Production and Marketing by Small Holder Farmers in Ethiopia፡ A Review Study

Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) was originated in the central high lands of the Andes in South America and was brought to Europe in the 16th century. It is the world’s fourth most widely cultivated food crop after wheat, rice and maize. Ethiopia has considerable potential for potato cultivation, as 70 percent of its arable land is suitable mainly highland areas above 1500 meters of altitude. Also, the country is one of the major producers in Eastern Africa because of its suitable agro-ecology and its domestic consumption levels. The main objective of the review was to know potato production and marketing status by small holder farmers in Ethiopia. The data were collected from secondary sources mainly from FAOSTAT, CSA and different published materials on production and marketing chain in Ethiopia. The general idea of the review shows that Ethiopia has potential for potato production but lack of certified improved seed for potato producers, local seed multipliers have limited access to information and depend on low-quality local potato varieties selected and multiplied according to individual knowledge, the high cost of agro-chemicals either refuse to purchase fertilizer or apply inadequate amounts per hectare. In addition, the use of the same type of chemicals repeatedly allows pests and diseases to develop resistance. The major constraints of potato marketing involve poor storage and handling and low upgrading strategies to the commodity. Lack of market information providing institutions, higher input price, multiple taxes, and chemical herbicides, adulteration, absence of road service, poor product quality and high cost of input, weak market linkages among market. Therefore, the government and other concerned bodies should focus on increasing production and productivity of potato which in turn focused for establishing well potato market development for mutual benefits of all actors. Keywords: Potato, Production, Marketing, Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-16-02 Publication date:August 31st 202

Analysis of Grain Traders’ Performance in Ethiopia: The Case of Contribution of Social Capital

This article examines the performance of 206 grain traders in 20 markets found in Amhara, Tigray, Oromiya and SNNPR of Ethiopia. The study adopts Fafchamps and Minten (1999) approach and used multiple regression model. The study identified that financial capital (working capital), social capital (using intermediary at the time of sale and customer relationship), human capital (farming experience) and transaction cost (having mobile, Oromiya and SNNPR) affected traders’ performance. The findings suggested adding working capital through different means (like access to credit through micro finance institutes, banks, etc.) with planned and market assessment, establishing licensed and well organized brokerage strengthen traders business relationship with regular customers in a formal or informal way, farmer-trader linkages are recommended through the dissemination of information (e.g. workshops) and training on quality and production management, establish and strengthen, a reliable, permanent,  public domain market information and other infrastructure are important to enhance traders performance, in turn encourage farmers to produce more and maximize benefit from grain market. Keywords: Ethiopia, social-capital, performance, customer-relationship, marketing-margi

Contribution of Hot Pepper Production to Household Food Security: The Case of Gursum District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Food insecurity is the key policy challenge for Ethiopia in general and Gursum district in particular. To combat this problem diversifying the smallholders’ farming systems and income sources is an option. In this regards, the production of cash crops like hot pepper, groundnut and other market-oriented crops is indispensable. Although hot pepper production is important source of income of households, systematic and rigors analysis of its contribution to households’ food security has not been done in Gursum district.   Thus, this research was undertaken in Gursum district of Oromia regional state in two kebeles with the objectives of examining food security status of household, analyzing the contribution of hot pepper in household food security and identifying the factors affecting household food security and hot pepper production. The research used primary data generated from 150 randomly selected sample households and secondary data from secondary sources. Household calorie consumption method was used to identify food security status of the sample household. The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage. The chi-square(X2) test for systematic association of discrete/dummy variables with food security status and t-test for mean difference of continuous variables for food secure and food insecure households were used. Binary logit model was used to identify the factors affecting household food security in the study area. Among twelve hypothesized variables five were significantly affect food security status of the household those were household size at p<5%, land size at p<1%, level of education at p<5%, non-farm participation and income from hot pepper at p<1% probability level. In general from the empirical analysis, similar to other studies on income from cash crop has contribution for food security, thus, this study also confirms that income from hot pepper has significant contribution in improving food security status of the household. But low price, lack of improved and other constraints challenges the production of hot pepper. Therefore, local government, both local and international Non-government Organizations and other stakeholders should jointly work on hot pepper production and its income to improve food security of household. Keywords: Food security, Hot pepper, Binary Logit, Gursum DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/86-05 Publication date: April 30th 201

Assessment of Banana Postharvest Handling Practices and Losses in Ethiopia

The study was conducted to assess the status of post-harvest handling practices and loss of banana in Ethiopia. The farm level post harvest handling and loss data were collected from 3 major banana producing zones, 5 districts, 10 farmer villages and 14 large-scale commercial farms.  The market level post-harvest handling and loss data also encompassed 19 major towns or market outlets scattered throughout Ethiopia. As such a total of 150 small-scale and 14 large-scale growers, 59 wholesalers/ripeners, 53 retailers and 53 consumers were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Secondary data was also collected from written documents and focus group discussions (stakeholders) across the survey areas. Results of the study indicated that the aggregate post-harvest loss of banana was estimated to be 45.78%, of which about 15.68% was incurred at farm, 22.05% at wholesale (including transport from farm gate and ripening), and 8.05% at retailer or purchase to end-user sale levels. Of the causes of postharvest loss accounted during banana transport from the farm gate, impact and finger breakage damages purely accounted to 20% while the remaining 80% also included physiological and other mechanical damages like compression, abrasion, bruising and puncturing. Being a delicate and highly perishable crop, results of the multiple regression analysis indicate that market distance, duration of transport, storage condition, storage duration, duration of ripening, type of ripening rooms, means of bunch transport, experience in banana marketing, etc. were found to be important determinants of the post-harvest loss of banana in Ethiopia. The study  generally indicate that even though the country has vast potential for banana production, the supply chain is facing several limitations and constraints that include high yield variability, crop management practices, and high produce perish ability and post-harvest losses throughout the handling stages. These points out the need for increased research and extension services as well as improvement in postharvest handling (transportation, storage, packaging and ripening) and marketing infrastructure and facilities. Keywords: Banana, supply-chain, post harvest handling, postharvest loss, determinant

The Impact of International Potato Center’s Nutrition Project on Smallholder farmers’ Income and Adoption of Improved Potato Varieties: Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia

Achieving national food security is one of the major challenges currently facing developing countries like Ethiopia. Despite the high production potential and the nutritional importance of the crops, potato and sweetpotato producers particularly smallholder farmers have not economically benefited much from their production. The nutrition project had been implemented by CIP-Ethiopia and was intended to encourage the production and consumption of the two crops using improved varieties. In view of that, the objectives of this study were: to assess the impact of the project on smallholder farmers’ income as well as to identify the factors that affect the adoption of improved potato varieties. For this study, 150 sample households were selected by international potato center and the baseline data was collected between 28th June and 12th July 2011 before the intervention, 100 were participants in the project whereas 50 were non-participants. The follow-up data was collected last December 2013. While the difference in differences estimation procedure was implemented in assessing the impact, the logistic regression was employed to identify the determinants of adoption of improved potato varieties. The results showed that the project has resulted in bringing a significant income improvement in the treatment group i.e. the mean income difference in the treated group before and after the treatment was significantly greater than the corresponding mean income difference of the control group. This is true in terms of total income, potato income as well as sweetpotato income. On the other hand, six of the covariates used in the logistic regression function to find out the determinants of adoption of improved potato varieties were found to be significant. These include education level of the household head, access to extension services, participation in off-farm activities, participation in the project, having radio and cell phone are found to be positively and significantly related with adoption

A Review on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Production Situations in Ethiopia

Ethiopia, with a population of about 81 million, is the second-most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa. Food insecurity is a major and ever worsening problem. Potato has been considered as a strategic crop by the Ethiopian government aiming at enhancing food security and economic benefits to the country as, potato has a high potential to supply a cheap and quality food within a relatively short period. Ethiopia is one of the principal potato producing countries in Africa. Central, Eastern, North-Western and Southern regions, constitute approximately 83% of the potato farmers in the country. Most of the available agricultural land is suitable for potato production. Keywords: Potato, Production, Ethiopi

Observed changes in extremes of daily rainfall and temperature in Jemma Sub-Basin, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Climate variability has been a threat to the socio-economic development of Ethiopia. This paper examined the changes in rainfall, minimum, and maximum temperature extremes of Jemma Sub-Basin of the Upper Blue Nile Basin for the period of 1981 to 2014. The nonparametric Mann-Kendall, seasonal Mann-Kendall, and Sen’s slope estimator were used to estimate annual trends. Ten rainfall and 12 temperature indices were used to study changes in rainfall and temperature extremes. The results showed an increasing trend of annual and summer rainfall in more than 78% of the stations and a decreasing trend of spring rainfall in most of the stations. An increase in rainfall extreme events was detected in the majority of the stations. Several rainfall extreme indices showed wetting trends in the sub-basin, whereas limited indices indicated dryness in most of the stations. Annual maximum and minimum temperature and extreme temperature indices showed warming trend in the sub-basin. Presence of extreme rainfall and a warming trend of extreme temperature indices may suggest signs of climate change in the Jemma Sub-Basin. This study, therefore, recommended the need for exploring climate induced risks and implementing appropriate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies