Women Proficiency in Global Crises Management: The case of Ethiopia

The COVID-19 virus is a new pathogen that is highly contagious, can spread quickly, considered capable of causing enormous health, economic and societal impacts. According to the WHO report, about (78%-85%) human-to-human transmission of the COVID-19 virus is the household transmission that has occurred in families where women's conventional role is very crucial. The main purpose of this paper is to assess women's proficiency in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. The finding suggests that women's leadership is more likely than men to adopt a relational approach to leadership in managing crises. It's expected that Ethiopia will be a beneficiary because more than half of the country's population and 50% of the top-level management at the national level are women

Determinants of Female-headed Households’ Livelihood Diversification Strategies Choice in Ambo District, Ethiopia

The study has concluded that diverse livelihood options are available and thus,Female - Headed Households pursue diverse range of activities that draw on their labor and time. However, the participation levels vary within Female - Headed Households(FHHs). The variation is mainly in terms of the activity they diversify into and conditions under which diversification are made. Generally, FHH participate in low-return and high risk and last resort activities. The study concludes that livelihood diversification strategies choice of FHH is determined by a number of factors. Hence, it is recommended that the livelihood of FHHs needs to be recognized and policy intervention should concentrate on improving access to assets within the aim of expanding livelihood options rather than assuming households are spatial homogenous and individual engage in one type of activity only

Assessment of the Occurrence and Prevalence of Faba Bean Gall (Olpidium viciae) in Western Highlands of Oromiya,Ethiopia

Faba bean gall disease has become a serious threat to faba bean production and productivity in some parts of Ethiopia causing a yield loss as high as 100%. The assessment was carried out during 2015 main cropping season in Western Oromiya, at which faba bean is mainly grown:  West Shewa, Horo Guduru Wellega and East Wellega zones to confirm the temporal and spatial occurrence and distribution of faba bean gall   diseases with the objective to find out   distribution, status and the prevalence. The assessment was made along the main roads and accessible routes in each targeted district at every 5-10 km intervals as per faba bean fields available. Five samples were taken from each sampling points by moving “W” fashion. The mean prevalence of faba bean gall was 17%. However, the overall mean severity of faba bean gall was (7%). Faba bean gall disease was more severe in West Shewa zone with mean severity of 15% followed by East Wellega (4%) and Horo Guduru Wellega (4%), respectively. Its prevalence was more prevalent in Mida Kegn district (80%) and followed by f 50%, 20%, and 17% at Horo, Jardaga Jarte and Gida Ayana, district, respectively. However, the least disease prevalence was observed in Gida Ayana district prevalence value of 17%. Faba bean gall disease observed in Western Oromiya was the most devastating and widely disseminated in the area within a few years since its occurrence, specifically in Mida kegn district. Farmers and woreda experts in Meda kegn witnessed that the occurrence of the disease was first observed   in 2012. However, the disease was found in 2015 at Horo Guduru Wellega, East Wellega zones .They observed fast dissemination and increasing coverage of the pathogen in time and space. In fact the disease was epidemic and more serious from the recorded data in the surveyed areas. Based on the result of quick survey, it is very mandatory to give attentions in order to find immediate solutions to enhance the production and productivity of the crop. Therefore, Joint work, and collaboration of plant pathologist with Agricultural experts are crucial to develop different management options for newly emerged faba bean gall disease. Keywords: Faba bean, Faba bean gall, Incidence, Prevalence, and Severit

Women’s Response Methods to the Consequences of Climate Change – A Survey Study in Dubti, Afar, Ethiopia

The majority Ethiopian women are largely engaged in the agricultural sector, which is highly vulnerable to climate changes. This study, aims at analyzing the determinants of women’s response measures of climate change in the Dubti Woreda. This article designed as a cross-sectional research design and employed qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Data was obtained from primary and secondary sources. Moreover, both the probability and non probability sampling techniques were employed. Accordingly, this article found that five major response mechanism to the consequence of climate change. The result from the binary logistic model reveals that age, access to training, farming experience, access to credit service, radio and mobile services determines women’s response methods to the consequence of climate changes. Finally, the article recommends for greater investment in women education and training to address the above mentioned challenges. Keywords: Climate change, Response Strategy, Binary Logistic Regression Model. DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/47-03 Publication date: April 30th 201

Evaluation of the Nutritional Composition of Selected Indigenous Fodder Trees and Shrubs in Daro Labu District, Eastern Ethiopia

Low availability of quality fodder particularly in the dry season is a major factor constraining livestock production in Ethiopia. Therefore, a study was conducted in Daro Labu District of West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia to evaluate the nutritional composition of selected indigenous fodder trees and shrubs as a feed resources. Three Rural Kebeles (villages) were purposively selected in the highland, midland, and lowland in the district. Chemical analysis of leaves of selected fodder trees and shrub samples, namely, Acacia brevispica L., Combretum molle, Erythrina abyssinic (Lam), and Cordia africana (Lam) were analyzed for their chemical composition. The results of chemical analysis of feed samples of the selected fodder trees and shrubs revealed that the dry matter of Combretum molle was found to be significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of Accia brevispica. The ash content of the selected fodder trees and shrubs ranged 7.3-16.6%. The ash content of Cordia africana was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of Combretum molle. The crude protein contents of Acacia brevispica L., Combretum molle, Erythrina abyssinic (Lam) and Cordia africana (Lam) were 17.51, 15.84, 14.04 and 8.89%, respectively. The neutral detergent fiber was greater (59.14%) in Cordia africana and lower (47.49%) in Acacia brevispica. The relative feed value of Acacia brevispica, Combretum molle, Erythrina abyssinica and Cordia africana were 136.3, 121.26, 112.9 and 74.8, respectively. The crude protein (CP) content and relative feeding value (RFV) of Acacia brevispica was significantly higher (P< 0.05) than the crude protein contents and relative feeding values of the other fodder tree/shrub species. This closely followed by the crude protein and feeding value of the leaves of Erythrina abyssinica. Generally, Acacia brevispica and Erythrina abyssinica had higher potential as animal feed in terms of crude protein contents and relative feeding value. In conclusion based on these results, Acacia brevispica and Erythrina abyssinica species could be recommended as potential animal feed resources in the study area. Keywords: Chemical analysis, feed resources, fodder trees and shrub

Major Challenges and Alternatives in the Provision of Guidance and Counseling Services in Universities: A Comprehensive Literature Reviewed

A number of studies have been carried out on Guidance and counseling services to college and/or University students by focusing on problems. Little literatures have been attempted to indicate challenges of guidance and counseling in association with opportunities there to overcome the challenges. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess and organize literatures on the challenges and alternatives in the provision process of Guidance and counseling services to college and/or Universities students in Ethiopia. Literatures have organized on the provision of Guidance and counseling services from worldwide to specific Ethiopian Universities. The findings from literatures indicated that implementation of guidance and counseling services carry various challenges such as lack of students’ awareness even about the availability of the services,  lack of counselors in the university, unavailability of material resources including appropriate counseling office in the university, little consideration for the services by university administrations, no budget allocated for these services, and no assessment of the impact of these services in the university. Moreover, concerning the alternatives to overcome these challenges, counselors do have many options to address the needs of students in the university. These alternatives include preparing university students’ counseling guidelines and professional ethics, preparing brochures and pamphlets to raise awareness of students, preparing problem assessment formats for guidance and counseling services, preparing performance evaluation formats, delivering well-organized and students’ need based counseling services, considering challenges as part of any activity, understanding the positive impacts of guidance and counseling services on students life in the university, having well-trained counselor, availing material resources and budget for the services, initiating counselors to have commitment for these services, raising awareness of students on its importance and accessibility, establishing appropriate office as the services needed, and using different counseling approaches like group and individual counseling based on their necessities are major alternatives identified. Keywords: provision of guidance and counseling services, challenges, alternatives, student

A Review on Faba Bean Gall (Olpidium Viciea) ‘Qormid’ Disease and Its Managements in Ethiopia

Plant diseases are of paramount importance to humans because they damage plants and plant products on which humans depends for food, clothing, furniture, the environment and in many cases the housing. The kinds and amounts of losses caused by plant diseases vary with the plant or plant products, the pathogen, the locality, the environment, the control measures practiced and combination of these factors. In Ethiopia, a diverse variety of diseases affects faba bean production. However, in recent time gall forming faba bean new disease has become a very serious disease that seriously affected the most faba bean producing areas of the country. The literature review carried out to explore faba bean gall disease on faba bean crops and its management in Ethiopia that would upgrade the agricultural sectors. Description of faba bean gall disease, its causal agents, distribution, symptoms, survival, and varies management strategies are gathered and compiled thoroughly from the available publications. Keywords: Faba bean crops, Gall disease, Symptoms, Control mechanism

Assessment of Perceived Sources, Consequences and Coping Mechanisms of Stress among Wolkite University First Year Regular Students: A Descriptive Survey Study

A number of studies have been carried out on sources of stress focusing on general prevalence rather than specific dimensions of the various sources of stress and their consequences along with coping mechanisms. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess perceived sources, consequences and stress coping mechanisms among first year regular undergraduate students’ of Wolkite University. Three hundred and twenty nine (329) first year students were selected from all colleges using multi-stage stratified sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire consisting of items on various dimensions of sources of stress, consequences and coping mechanisms were administered. The finding explicate that freshmen students in Wolkite University had experienced all the major forms of sources of stress mainly intrapersonal sources than academic, interpersonal and environmental sources respectively. The independent t-test analyses in terms of gender indicated that female freshmen studentsare more prone to all forms of such sources of stress, chiefly of intrapersonal sources of stress with (M = 3.95, SD = .26), t (287) = -16.71, p < 0.05 as compared to their male counterparts. Psychological, academic, social, physical and health related negative consequences of stresses were some commonly revealed ones. Active problem coping followed by active emotional coping approach was the most applied one to handle stress and there was significant gender differences in utilizing coping strategies in which female students employed less active problem and active emotional focused coping strategies than male students (M=2.93, SD =.55), t (287) = 13.37, p < 0.05 and (M = 2.51, SD = .48), t (287) 16.89, p < 0.05 respectively. Moreover in this study, a significant negative correlations were found between all forms of perceived sources of stress (intrapersonal, academic, interpersonal and environmental), and active problem coping style and active emotional coping style while passive problem coping style and passive emotional coping style found to be positively correlated to sources of stress. Female students have experienced all major forms of perceived sources of stress with its damaging effects and used more passive problem and emotional coping mechanisms. Hence, university officials, student’s counselors and policy makers have to make conducive learning environment in the University to curb difficulties first year students face difficulties in their academic, social, health and psychological wellbeing. Keywords: consequences of stress, coping mechanisms, freshmen students, perceived sources of stress

Assessment of Feed Resources Availability and Utilization in Daro Labu district, Western Hararghe Zone

The study was conducted in Daro Labu District of West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia to assess the availability and utilization practices of feed resources in the study area. Data was collected by semi structured interview, focus group discussion and secondary data was collected from different sources. Three Rural Kebeles (villages) were purposively selected in the highland, midland, and lowland in the district. The purpose of keeping livestock species in the study area were for milk (for sale and home consumption), meat, draft power, source of cash (from sale of animals and their products), source of manure and transport. The survey result indicated that mixed crop-livestock production is the key farming activity in the study district. Both sale of crops and livestock were the main sources of income. Crop residues and leaves of fodder trees and shrubs were the major sources of feed in dry season while thinned plants and weeds from crop fields were the primary sources of feed in the wet season of the study area. It is concluded that crop residues, fodder trees and shrubs, and thinned plants and weeds from crop fields are the major feed resources in the study area. Feed shortage, livestock disease, water shortage, extended drought and market problem is the major identified problems and constraints of livestock production in the study area. Finding of the study also revealed that frequent occurrence of drought, over population, and cropland expansion account for the major causes of feed resource shortage in the study area. Proper cultivation and utilization of improved forage and fodder trees and shrubs can serve as a means of improving animal feed availability. This opportunity should be recommended to supplement with other feed resources to improve the nutritional quality of available feed resources. More and effective extension services and strengthening the capacity of farmers in feed resource conservation techniques should focus on solving for livestock feed shortage in the study area. Keywords: Crop residues, Feed, Feed resources, Fodder trees and shrub