A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF DEMAND FOR BEEF, MUTTON/GOAT, PORK AND CHICKEN IN KENYA, 1961-1991

This study examines the demand for beef, mutton/goat, pork and chicken in Kenya for the period 1961 to 1991. A log linear function was used to estimate direct, cross and income elasticities. The analysis reveals that the demand for beef and mutton/goat is elastic while the demand for pork and chicken is inelastic. The results of further analyses indicate that mutton/goat is a substitute to beef while pork and chicken are complements to it. In the mutton/goat equation, beef is a substitute to mutton/goat while pork and chicken are complements to it. Both the beef and the mutton/goat equations indicated an income elasticity of more than one. High income elasticities for these two types of meat perhaps indicate that if improvements can be made in both production and marketing, more of these meat types would be consumed at every increase in income. In both the pork and chicken equations, beef and mutton/goat are found to be complements of these meat types. Pork and chicken are substitutes to each other.Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

Impact of Mining Activity on Soil Quality and Plant Biodiversity in Senkele Faris, West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia

Sand and rock mining is an alarming problem for the agricultural land users in Senkelefaris area since it creates long term   negative impact on the environment. The present study focuses the impacts of sand and rock mining on the soil quality and plant biodiversity. The results revealed water retention rate of the soil has reduced in the mined area due to variation in the physical nature of the soil. The percentage composition of sand fraction was significantly high in the mining area with low in organic content, low fertility, due to the  permeable nature. The bulk density was significantly (p<0.05) higher in mined soil which might be a cause for change in soil properties. Though the pH values remains within the permissible limit, the moisture content and cation exchange capacity were significantly (p<0.001) higher in the unmined soil. There were 1340 trees (22 genera and 19 family) in the unmined area whereas in the mined plots have 174 (16 genera and 19 family) were observed. The most dominant species was Olea europaea belongs to the family Oleaceae in both area. The density of shrubs was high (3975) in the un mined area when compared to (231) the mined places. Among shrubs species belonging to the family Apocynaceae were dominant (2082) in the unmined area  and  those of family Rubiaceae (89) in  the mined area. Keywords: Senkelefaris, mining, bulk density, Oleaceae, Apocynaceae, Rubiaceae

Effects of Teacher Scaffolding on Students’ Reading Comprehension

No Abstrac

Infection Site Dependent Progression of Cutaneous Lesions in African Green Monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) Experimentally Infected with Leishmania aethiopica Promastigotes

Studies on experimental infection of Leishmania aethiopica are very limited due to lack of laboratory animal models. It was previously reported that the African green monkey (grivet monkey) could serve as a non–human primate model of L. aethiopica infection. This report provides preliminary data on the development and progression of skin lesions in grivet monkeys when infected with L. aethiopica either in the eye lids or the tip of nose. A total of 22 African green monkeys were inoculated subcutaneously on the eye lid (n=14) or the tip of nose (n=8) with 5 x 106 stationary phase promastigotes of L. aethiopica. No lesions developed on the eye lids. Lesions of various stages of cutaneous leishmaniasis were observed at the tip of nose. The outcome of L. aethiopica infection in African green monkeys and possibly humans could be infection-site dependent. Further studies are needed to examine and understand the immunopathogenetic processes

Factors determining the degree of commercialization of smallholder agriculture: the case of potato growers in Kombolcha District, East Hararghe, Ethiopia

Potato is one of the most valuable and widely consumed crops in the world in general and in Ethiopia in particular. Similarly, in Kombolcha District, it is among the most important crops grown for sale and consumption by smallholder farmers. Commercializing such crops does have multiple benefits for the smallholder farmers of the district as the district has great potential for commercial vegetable production and there is a growing market opportunity for the products. However, potato growing smallholders in the district are producing at a subsistence level and their participation in the market (degree of commercialization) is not only low but also varies across the district. Hence, this study was initiated to identify factors determining the extent of market participation (degree of commercialization) of potato growers. Five potato growing Peasant Associations (PAs) were selected purposively from a total of 10 Peasant Associations and subsequently 133 respondents were selected using simple random sampling from the sampling frame i.e. potato growers. A formal survey was conducted to collect data, which was supported by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Both descriptive statistics and Robust OLS model were employed to analyze quantitative 1 Lecturer, Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, Haramaya University, Ethiopia 2 Postdoctoral fellow, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3 Professor, Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, Haramaya University, Ethiopia JAD 2 (1) 2011 Factors Determining the Degree of Commercialization 19 data; whereas qualitative data were analyzed using narrations and interpretations. The OLS results indicated that farm size allocated to potato, access to irrigation and access to market information were found to be significant in affecting extent of market participation (degree of commercialization) at 1 % probability level. Hence, organizing farmers into groups in order to have better access to irrigation, providing market information through networking and institutions and improving extension service and availing improved varieties, overall, modernizing potato production are therefore crucial in enhancing the extent of market participation (the degree of commercialization)

Improvement of sheep skin quality after treatment with diazinon against cockle

Cockle, otherwise known as ekek locally, has been economically the most important skin defect among the tanneries in Ethiopia for the last three decades. The disease has been experimented on since 1996 when FAO sponsored the trials on sheep and goat skin improvement trial (TCP/ETH/4558&6712) and found that diazinon improved the skin quality of treated sheep at least by 1 grade. However, the trials had not been sustainable to find out what the skin quality of the lambs of the dams that had been treated with diazinon would look like. The trial carried out at Debre Birhan Agriculture Research Centre filled this gap and showed repeatedly that sheep treated against lice and keds with diazinon improved the skin quality of the adult by 1 grade and those of their lambs by 3-5 grades. It started with 367 Menz and 265 Horro sheep in October 2009 and completed in January 2011. Lice and keds count of the trial sheep was carried out before and after treatment with diazinon. After the treatment, the parasite count dropped to 0 and there was a significant difference between the skin grades of the sheep before and after treatment with diazinon at 95% confidence level. The dramatic skin quality improvement appeared in the lambs which, compared to the adult sheep skins, had improved by 89% to 90%

THE INTEGRATION OF MULTICULTURALISM INTO THE ETHIOPIAN UNIVERSITIES’ ENVIRONMENT

This study examined the extent to which the issue of multiculturalism is infused into the environments of Universities in Ethiopia. Four hundred forty-four instructors and students were selected using random sampling technique from the five universities. A structured questionnaire and an unstructured interview were used as data collecting instruments. The quantitative data were analyzed using one sample t-test where as the qualitative one was analyzed using narration. The quantitative data disclosed that the issue of multiculturalism is infused into the programs of the Universities, where as the qualitative one did not.Therefore, a detailed future investigation shall be made in this area of concern

NEXUS BETWEEN BELIEFS COLLEGE ENGLISH INSTRUCTORS’ HELD ABOUT TEACHING READING STRATEGIES AND THEIR CLASSROOM PRACTICE

This study examined connections between beliefs college English language instructors’ held about reading strategies and how they implemented them in teaching reading. The sites of the target population for this study were the Colleges of Teacher Education students in Amhara National Regional State Council, Ethiopia. In this region, there are 10 Administrative Zones. In the zones, there are 10 colleges. Among these, 4 colleges were selected by simple random sampling technique. From the 4 selected colleges, 26 instructors were selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through close-ended questionnaire items and observation checklist. Data obtained from questionnaire were analyzed using percentage where the observation data were applied one sample t-test. The findings indicate that college instructors held strong beliefs about English language strategies. In spite of their strong belief, however, the research confirmed that instructors do not actually apply the strategies in their reading classes. From the findings, it could be inferred that it would be useful if instructors adjust their beliefs to practices. To help instructors connect their beliefs to their practice, there seems a need to train them on reading strategies

RESIDUAL STRENGTH ASSESSMENT OF CORRODED PIPELINES

Pipelines are one of the most efficient means for transporting hydrocarbons from one point to the other point, which may be routed within onshore or offshore locations. There is a great risk while operating these pipelines due to defects occurring during the service life. Corrosion is one of the most common defects observed in many instants. At the point of corrosion, the wall of the pipe section becomes thinner and starts to lose its mechanical resistance. Therefore, appropriate defect assessment method is necessary in order to decide whether to keep them into continual operation or to make a shutdown for necessary maintenance or replacement of sections of the pipeline. Methods for assessing metal loss defects have been available for many decades, as for instance the NG-18 equation and ANSI/ASME B31G code. Throughout the years, many modifications to the original equations have been made and newer methods like Modified B31G and RSTRENG were adopted. Moreover, these days, there are several in-house methods and commercial codes. A quantitative study on the prediction by five most applicable current assessment methods showed big bias and large scatters against burst test database. For example, the burst capacity prediction made by B31G criteria showed an average bias of about 31% under estimation with up to 72% lower predictions. Hence, these methods enforce either unnecessary maintenance or premature replacement of pipelines. But pipeline operators need a reliable defect assessment methodology not only to assure safe operation but also to implement optimum operation cost. This research was conducted to develop a new method for the residual strength assessment of corroded pipeline based on burst test and a series of nonlinear finite element (FE) analyses. The burst test samples were taken from API X52 pipeline retired from service due to corrosion. Burst tests were conducted in order to study the failure mode and to validate the FE approach for the assessment of corroded pipelines. viii The burst test showed that the failure of the corroded pipeline is due to plastic collapse. The FE simulations corresponding to the test samples well matched with burst test results within less than 5% error. Thus, the FE simulation was used as a complement to the burst test database in order to develop a new corrosion assessment method. Stress-based criterion based on plastic instability analysis was used to predict the failure pressure. This research contributed to the development of an alternative corrosion defect assessment method. The New Method can predict the burst pressure of corroded pipelines with better accuracy than the currently used corrosion assessment codes and norms. The New Method agreed with the burst test database with predictions evenly distributed within about ±7% along the actual value with an average error of only about 0.30%. For the same burst test database, the Modified B31G gave conservative predictions with a mean bias of about 24% with as low as 52% predictions than the actual value. Therefore, pipeline operators and engineers will benefit from this research