Legal regional fish trade in the Horn of Africa: experience from a FAO-IGAD project

The contribution of fish and fisheries products in the economy of Horn of Africa countries is substantial to food security, livelihoods, employment and foreign currency earnings. However, production is mostly characterised by artisanal fishermen who rely on local and cross border trading conducted through informal and unofficial market channels and tends to be underestimated in terms of its contribution and importance to the local and regional economies. There is high potential for increasing incomes from fish and fish products if value chain operators capacity is developed. The FAO-Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) in partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) is carrying out a project on capacity building to promote formal fish trade in the Horn of Africa. This paper provides an overview on the target beneficiaries, activities, outcomes/outputs and anticipated impact. Moreover, achievements to date and preliminary findings from Ethiopia and Uganda will be presented

Transhumance cattle production system in North Gondar, Amhara region, Ethiopia: is it sustainable?

The study was carried out in three highland woredas (districts) of Chilga, Dembia and Gondar Zuria in north Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. These woredas were purposively selected because of their long experience in transhumance cattle production system. The objectives of the study were to characterize the transhumance cattle production system, identify the major constraints and forward appropriate developmental interventions for the future. Informal and formal surveys were employed to collect qualitative and quantitative data. From these woredas, a total of 180 representative households from 9 rural kebeles were selected using systematic random sampling methods. Semi-structured questionnaires and topical guidelines (checklists) were used to collect data. The results revealed that livestock production system in the highlands is characterized by mixed crop–livestock production and rainy season transhumance production system. Transhumance production system was practised mainly into the lowland areas. The major reasons why cattle were trekked to the lowlands were availability of feed (99.2%), free land for stocking (92.4%), low disease risk (25.0%) and availability of non-waterlogged areas (0.8%). Preferred locations were Metema (84.0%), Armachiho (9.6%), and Quara (4.0%) woredas, while very low percentages considered Alefa and Chilga woredas (0.8% each). The months when cattle movement started were May (69.5%), June (29.6%) and April (0 .8%), and the months of returned home were October (45.8%) and September (35.9%). Three major cattle trekking routes were identified, and the selection of routes depended on distance, availability of forage and non-crop covered areas. The first destination is Agamwuha kebele (Lemlem Terara) in Metema district, irrespective of the routes followed. About 60.3% of the cattle population of the three woredas was trekked to the lowlands during the rainy season. The number of cattle owners and the size of cattle population involved in one group were 4.3 ± 0.18 farmers and 58.8 ± 3.89 heads, respectively. The average daily milk off-take, lactation yield and lactation length of indigenous cows in the three studied areas was about 2.0 ± 0.07 litres, 540 ± 21.05 litres, and 8.9 ± 0.16 months, respectively. The mean age at first calving (AFC) and calving interval (CI) was 5.2 ± 0.30 years and 19.0 ± 0.38 months, respectively, while mean calf crop was 7.4 ± 0.47 heads. The average weaning age of calves was almost one year, being 11.6 ± 0.26 months. In the lowlands, milking, butter making and selling of dairy products were performed only by male herders. In the highland areas, butter (95.6%) was one of the most important saleable dairy products followed by raw milk (18.4%), fermented milk (ergo) and buttermilk (6.1%). However, during the transhumance period, butter (95.3%) was the major marketable commodity followed by raw milk (61.3%), buttermilk (18.9%) and fermented milk (14.2%). Highlanders also market dry cows, oxen, heifers and young bullocks during their stay inthe lowlands. The major constraints identified by the highlanders were conflict with the lowlanders, cattle theft, human and livestock diseases, and lack of markets. Most of the respondents (86.3%) estimated that the trend of transhumance has been increasing due to feed shortage (50.4%), expansion of crop cultivation (27.4%) and increasing cattle population (21.2%) in the highlands. Human population has also been increasing both in the highlands and lowlands, and the current infrastructure development in the lowlands (tarmac road, electricity, phone etc.) will further encourage more migration to the lowlands. The conflict over resources will intensify, probably leading to the demise of this production system unless alterative development strategies, such as intensification of the production system in the highlands and development of feed conservation and marketing in the lowlands are devised

Mortality and its associated factors among mechanically ventilated adult patients in the intensive care units of referral hospitals in Northwest Amhara, Ethiopia, 2023

BackgroundWorldwide, nearly half of the patients admitted to intensive care units require ventilatory support. Despite advances in intensive care unit patient management and mechanical ventilator utilization, the odds of mortality among mechanically ventilated patients are higher in resource-limited settings. Little is known about the mortality of patients on mechanical ventilation outside the capital of Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess mortality and its associated factors among mechanically ventilated adult patients in intensive care units.MethodAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units from 1 February 2020 to 1 March 2023. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 434 patients’ charts. A data extraction tool designed on the Kobo toolbox, a smartphone data collection platform, was used to collect the data. The data were exported into Microsoft Excel 2019 and then into Stata 17 for data management and analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of the study participants. A bivariable logistic regression was conducted, and variables with p ≤ 0.20 were recruited for multivariable analysis. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05, and the strength of associations was summarized using an adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals.ResultA total of 404 charts of mechanically ventilated patients were included, with a completeness rate of 93.1%. The overall proportion of mortality was 62.87%, with a 95% CI of (58.16–67.58). In the multivariable logistic regression, age 41–70 years (AOR: 4.28, 95% CI: 1.89–9.62), sepsis (AOR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.08–5.46), reintubation (AOR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.06–7.21), and sedation use (AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18–0.98) were found to be significant factors associated with the mortality of mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit.ConclusionThe magnitude of mortality among mechanically ventilated patients was high. Factors associated with increased odds of death were advanced age, sepsis, and reintubation. However, sedation use was a factor associated with decreased mortality. Healthcare professionals in intensive care units should pay special attention to patients with sepsis, those requiring reintubation, those undergoing sedation, and those who are of advanced age

Reproductive biology of Garra regressus and Garra tana (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Lake Tana, Ethiopia

The reproductive biology of Garra regressus and Garra tana was investigated by collecting monthly samples (January to December 2006) from the southern Gulf of Lake Tana, where these species are endemic.  Garra regressus has an extended breeding time from April to October while G. tana breeds throughout the year with a peak from March to July.  The mean size at maturity in both the species was not significantly different between the sexes, but G. tana had a significantly lower mean size at maturity than G. regressus in female specimens.  Absolute fecundity estimates for G. regressus ranged from 580.8–1800, while those for G. tana ranged from 538.9–2968.  Egg size frequency distribution revealed that G. regressus is a multiple spawner, while G. tana is a single spawner.  The sex ratio in the total catch of G. regressus was found to be skewed in favour of females (Chi-square, P&lt; 0.05), while those for G. tana was not significantly different from 1:1. The mean size at maturity was not significantly different between the sexes for G. tana. </div

Shesher and Welala Floodplain Wetlands (Lake Tana, Ethiopia): Are They Important Breeding Habitats for Clarias gariepinus and the Migratory Labeobarbus Fish Species?

This study aims at investigating the spawning migration of the endemic Labeobarbus species and C. gariepinus from Lake Tana, through Ribb River, to Welala and Shesher wetlands. The study was conducted during peak spawning months (July to October, 2010). Fish were collected through overnight gillnet settings. A total of 1725 specimens of the genus Labeobarbus (13 species) and 506 specimens of C. gariepinus were collected. Six species of Labeobarbus formed prespawning aggregation at Ribb River mouth. However, no Labeobarbus species was found to spawn in the two wetlands. More than 90% of the catch in Welala and Shesher wetlands was contributed by C. gariepinus. This implies that these wetlands are ideal spawning and nursery habitats for C. gariepinus but not for the endemic Labeobarbus species. Except L. intermedius, all the six Labeobarbus species (aggregated at Ribb River mouth) and C. gariepinus (spawning at Shesher and Welala wetlands) were temporally segregated

Effect of replacing fish meal by sweet lupin meal on growth performance of African catfish fingerlings, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Scarcity of fish meal remains one of the major challenges in the development of aquaculture in Ethiopia. A growth performance experiment was conducted to investigate the best inclusion level of sweet lupin meal (SLM) in replacing fish meal (FM) to grow African catfish fingerlings, Clarias gariepinus. A total of 120 juveniles weighing an average of 6.01 to 6.09 g were stocked at a rate of 100 fishes m-3. The control group received 100% FM and 3 treatments with different proportions of SLM replacement level (50%, 75% and 100%) were tested and feed was provided at a rate of 5% of their live body weight. The mean live weight varied from 8.5 g to 30 g and condition factor from 0.44 to 0.68 after 9 weeks of feeding. The fingerlings grown in 50% SLM and 50% FM formulated feed showed better condition and growth than 75% and 100%. The feed conversion ratio was higher for all treatments but the FCR at 100% replacement level was significantly different from others. Cost of production was higher on the control group, while the profit index was better for treatment I. The study revealed the possibility of growing C. gariepinus juveniles to 30 g sized fingerlings in 9 weeks by replacing 50% of FM with cheaper and locally available SLM

Embryonic and larval development of an endemic Lake Tana barb, Labeobarbus brevicephalus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

The present study is a description of the embryonic and post-embryonic development of Lake Tana endemic barb species, Labeobarbus brevicephalus, from fertilization until active feeding. Bouin’s solution immersed and unfertilized egg diameter ranged from 1.63 to 1.93 mm. The first cleavage occurred within 60-minute post-fertilization at a temperature of 23.0–25.8°C. Yolk invasion was completed by gradual spreading over the germ layer at 20 h. At about 43 h, the embryo occupied more than ¾ of the egg peripheral space. The heart was beating actively and the blood circulation was visible. Yolk sac was restricted to the head region, embryos became active and exhibited continuous twitching movement. Hatching was synchronous, started 58 h + 30 min post-fertilization and was completed within 65 h at the same temperature range. Average total length of newly hatched larvae was 5.06 ± 0.16 mm (mean ± SE, n = 5). The overall embryonic and post-embryonic development of Lake Tana L. brevicephalus were completed in eight days time. By this time post-fertilization larva began active feeding and had well developed cartilaginous neurocranium, most of the bony elements in splanchnocranium, pigmentation on the head, eyes and body, cartilaginous pectoral fin and pectoral fin girdle with single bony element cleithrum, reduced fin fold, developed cartilaginous support and several ossified fin rays in unpaired fins. The information obtained from this study will be useful to cover gaps in early life history, first feeding and ontogeny of L. brevicephalus for its conservation and restoration.Keywords/phrases: Conservation, Labeobarbus brevicephalus, Lake Tana, Ontogeny, Post-fertilization, Yolk invasio