Structure Determination of Compounds from the Bark of Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. using 1D NMR Spectral Methods

This study was carried out to investigate chemical constituents on the bark of Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. Three compounds were isolated from methanol extract of the bark Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. and it were identified as compound-1 [tetrahydro-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-(terahydro-3,4-dihydroxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)fura-2-yloxy)-2H-pyran-3,4,5 triol], compound-2 [dihydroxy-2-(3, 4, 5) trihydroxyphenyl) chromenylium-2-4) methoxy-6-methyloxane-3, 4, 5 triol] and compound-3 [6- methoxycyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5-pentaol]. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by means of 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and DEPT-135 spectral data and comparison with literature reports. Keywords: chemical constituents; Ficus ingens (Miq).Miq.; methanol; DOI: 10.7176/CPER/61-01 Publication date: April 30th 201

Public Attitude Towards Street Children and How Street Children Understand Themselves: The Case of Nekemte Town

Street children are common phenomena throughout the world facing a lot of challenges in their life. People especially local community have controversial attitude for this children while the majority perceive them as the trouble and burden to the societies life few of the community have positive attitude.The main objective of this study was identifying the attitude people for street children and the attitude street children for themselves.So, to attain this objective, a cross-sectional study design was utilized. The researchers used mixed approach and both quantitative and qualitative tools of data collection were used. The researcher relied more on qualitative method due to the nature of the issue under investigation. The data was collected from 100 street children and other 10 concerned living in Nekemte Town.The researcher observe the town first and communicate with different people to identify the areas where street children highly concentrated and based  on that three areas namely Bus station, around Miriam Church and 2nd Street of Nekemte town were selected. In order to collect the data three types of instruments were used which includes questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion.Hence, the results of the findings go in line with the objectives of this study.Almost all of the children participated in this study argued as as the local people have negative attitude for them although their attitude contradict with the realities street children life. Different people interviewed also justified as people ignore street children standing form their behavior and street children’s engagement in delinquent activities. They also depicted as street children have positive side especially their ups and down activities to overcome their and their families’ problem. Keywords:Public attitude, Street Children, Street children attitud

Agricultural and Rural Transformation in Ethiopia: Obstacles, Triggers and Reform Considerations

Ethiopia’s agriculture has shown remarkable resilience over many years but is now increasingly failing. In spite of national efforts, the number of poor and food insecure population has remained very high, with an estimated 25 million people at the threshold of survival. The numbers of people on emergency and safety net program assistance have been consistently increasing both in aggregate number and in spatial manifestations, now covering nearly all the Regional States. In addition, Ethiopia’s import of cereals, edible oil and lint cotton, has continues to rise dramatically, costing over a billion dollars every year. This is an underlying trend that should alarm policymakers and development practitioners alike. The traditional factors of production, land, labor and capital, have now been merged with the knowledge system. The real difference between the rich and poor countries is no longer only endowment of the factors of production as they used to be; rather it is how effectively nations, and people, utilize knowledge. Knowledge, that is scientific invention, technology, innovation, and the internet are all growing at an accelerated rate leaving far behind countries such as Ethiopia. Important incentives and reform priorities are suggested as a basis for enacting agricultural and rural transformation including supportive legal environment, facilitate and support agricultural mechanization and input distribution as well as encourage and support decisive private sector participation and leadership in agricultural and rural transformation

Assessment of Pastorals’ Perceptions of Lake Basaka's Water Quality Concerning Its Impact on Sheep and Goat Production in Mid Rift Valley of Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to assess pastoral perceptions of lake Basaka saline water concerning the effects on sheep and goat production in great Ethiopia's mid-rift valley. Fourteen focus group discussions with livestock owners and 15 key informant interviews were done in selected areas, and both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a questionnaire guide. The survey study report showed that pastoral and agropastoral were common production systems with diverse species of livestock with goat and sheep in dominance. Feed scarcity, drought, and water problems were the major constraints to sheep and goat production and productivity. While lake Basaka water is not good for the drinking of sheep and goats because of its salinity content, it was a major water source for their animals, especially during dry seasons. Seasons and climate conditions were varied the salinity contents of lake Basaka water and had negative effects on livestock production and health. However, goats are more tolerant of the drinking lake Basaka than sheep in the study area.  Based on the pastoral perceptions, in dry regions including the study area, where feed is scarce both in quantity, long-term drinking naturally saline water of lake Basaka is not safe for livestock species, especially during dry seasons. These findings are useful for policymakers and organizations working on projects aimed at increasing the resilience of pastoralists, while future research could identify appropriate technologies to help alleviate these impacts. Keywords: Water scarcity; poor water quality; small ruminants DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-17-02 Publication date:September 30th 202

Empirical Investigation on Determinants of Lending Behaviour: Evidence from Commercial Banks in Ethiopia

This study was carried out to investigating determinants to lending behaviour in commercial banks of Ethiopia from 2010- 2017. The study tried to investigate bank specific and macroeconomic determinants of lending behaviour based on data of eleven commercial banks in Ethiopia by using deposit ratio, liquidity ratio, bank size, efficiency ratio and banks ownership as bank specific factors and Reserve requirement ratio, exchange rate, lending rate, inflation rate and gross domestic product as macroeconomic determinants of lending behaviour. The study also sought to examine lending disparity among banks under the investigation by taking into account individuality of each bank through dummy variable. Data was obtained from national bank of Ethiopia and world bank data base and analyzed through panel data regression analysis by applying fixed effect regression model. The finding revealed that from bank specific factors, deposit ratio and bank ownership have positive and significant effect on lending behaviour of banks under the investigation. On the other hand, liquidity ratio, bank size and efficiency ratio have negative but statistically insignificant effect on lending behaviour. The finding also shows that from macroeconomic factors, exchange rate, lending rate and gross domestic product have found to have positive but statistically insignificant effect on lending behaviour. Result on macroeconomic factors also shows that reserve requirement ratio and inflation rate have negative but insignificant effect on lending behaviour of banks under the investigation. Finally, the study revealed existence of statistically significant disparity between CBE and other banks under the investigation in terms of lending behaviour. Keywords: lending behviour, lending behaviour in Ethiopian banks, Girma Diriba DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-19-03 Publication date:October 31st 202

Effect of Processing on Anti-nutritional Factors and Sensory Qualities of ‘Hepho’, a Black Climbing Bean (Lablab purpureus L.) Flour

Food quality of most legumes depends upon the processing methods applied and presence or absence of anti-nutritional or toxic factors.  It is widely accepted that simple and inexpensive processing techniques are effective methods of achieving desirable qualities of processed legume seeds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of processing on anti-nutritional factors (tannin and Phytate) and sensory characteristics (taste, bitterness, appearance, texture and overall acceptability) of hepho (Lablab purpureus L) flour. Hepho is the Afan Oromo name for black climbing bean which is an indigenous legume in Ethiopia. The processing techniques employed were traditional cooking (TC) and pressure cooking (PC) of the dehulled and undehulled hepho bean while the raw sample was served as a control. All the processing methods significantly reduced (P<0.05) the anti-nutritional factors under investigation. Of the two processing techniques, the reduction of the antinutritional factors by PC was evaluated to be higher than that of TC. The sensory analysis showed that there is no significant difference (P > 0.05) between dehulled TC and dehulled PC as well as undehulled TC and undehulled PC. But there is a significant difference (P<0.05) between dehulled and undehulled TC and PC methods. The overall acceptability rating was higher for dehulled seeds in both the treatments. From this it can be concluded that simple processing techniques can drastically reduce some anti-nutritional factors thereby increase the biological value of legumes and the same processing techniques can result in increase of the overall acceptability of dishes produced from legumes. Keywords: Hepho (Lablab purpureus L.), processing methods, ant-nutritional factors, sensory characteristics

Federalism, Democracy and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows: Are They Complementary or Competing Concepts?

Least developed countries (LDCS) and developing countries desperately need foreign direct investment (FDI) for steady economic growth and sustainable development. Partly as a result of stiff competition due to globalization which brought about cross-border businesses through multi-national corporations (MNCs), those unfortunate economies are changing their policies and exerting their maximum potential to demonstrate themselves as favourable investment destinations in the eyes of MNCs. But, FDI comes to the host states only after thorough analysis of the benefits and costs because investors are motivated by making profits. Thus, obviously foreign direct investors opt for less risky investment. To achieve this, foreign direct investor’s seriously look in whether the host state is a democratic state, adopted functioning federalism, etc so that they would easily forecast the political risks against their investments. The tendency is that, investors will not come and continue their operations if the political risks are high while they do where the political risks are lower. However, the conceptual relationships among democracy, federalism and FDI inflows are still very concerning issues all over the world. This paper clearly shows as federalism and FDI inflows on one hand; democracy and FDI inflows on the other side are complementary than competing concepts. Federalism, democracy and FDI inflows have been regarded as a mutually reinforcing couple by many scholars to date. Hence, democratic and federal countries attract higher levels of FDI through ensuring the lowering of political risks. Keywords: - Foreign Direct Investment, Democracy, Federalism, MNCs. DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/68-02 Publication date:July 31st 2020

Modeling and Analysis of Ethiopian Banking Sector Performance using BSC and AHP Approaches

We live in a world of information superhighway where the physical world is frequently transforming into a virtual one and so is banking service. More often than not the banking business has replaced physical transaction and paper money with an online transaction and virtual money, leading to a cashless society. However, the same can’t be said about the Ethiopian banking sector as much of the aforementioned features represent its tomorrow; today the sector is faced with an urgent matter of attaining excellence in conventional banking service. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the performance of banking service in Ethiopia using the BSC and the AHP approaches considered arguably, more reliable measure as compared to conventional ratio analysis and the results indicated that CBE ranked first with the score of 34.47%, followed by AIB (19.82%) which performed slightly better than DB (19.49%) and standing fourth is OIB (14.87%) and occupying the last position was AdIB (11.36%) in terms of performance as rated by experts in contrast based on conventional ratio analysis AdIB stood first with a score of 78% followed by OIB at 63%, then AIB (58%) and the fourth place belonged to CBE (51%) and finally DB (50%). Thus, the most vital variable missing in financial ratio analysis were perhaps customers; not to mention the internal business processes and the learning and growth perspectives of the banking service. Consequently, in order to secure a fuller understanding of actual banking service performance a combination BSC and AHP was suggested

The Effects of Green Manures Integrated with In-Organic Fertilizer on Yield of Bread Wheat [Triticum Aestivum] in Middle Awash, Ethiopia

Green manures integrated with inorganic fertilizers are well known for improving productive capacity of soil and rehabilitation of the degraded farm lands. An experiment was conducted during 2016 -2018 at Fentale woreda, Oromia region and Amibara woreda, Afar region; to evaluate the integrated effect of green manures with nitrogen fertilizer rates and identify appropriate forage legumes for green manure. Randomized complete block design was employed with three replications. Three forage legumes: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and Lablab (Lablab purpureus) in factorial arrangement with four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 11.5, 23, and 34.5 kg ha-1 N); while, 46 kg ha-1 of nitrogen fertilizer was applied as a control. Pre-sowing and after harvest soil samples were collected and analyzed following the standard procedures. Twenty one days prior to wheat seed sowing, the forages were harvested at early flowering stage, chopped and incorporated in to the soil; while, 100 g of the fresh field weight was took for laboratory analysis. Wheat grain yield and other parameters were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS software. The analysis of variance revealed that, year, location and treatment effects were significant (P < 0.001). The highest mean grain yields (3079.87, 3015.99, 3000.16, and 2964.79 kg ha-1) were recorded at 34.5 kg ha-1 N + Alfalfa, 34.5 kg ha-1 N + Lablab, 23 kg ha-1 N + Lablab, 11.5 kg ha-1 N + Alfalfa) respectively. As a result, Alfalfa or Lablab integrated with 34.5, 23, and 11.5 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer were suggested as alternative management options. Keywords/Phrases: bread-wheat, fertility, green manures, integrated, middle awash, nitrogen fertilizer DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-1-01 Publication date: January 31st 202

Evaluation of Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Physical Yield Aspect under the Canopy of Cordia Africana and Erythrina abyssinica Shade Trees Effect in Arsi Golelcha District, Ethiopia

Coffee plantation with shade trees is important to increase coffee production, sustain and restore agroecology and nature based agroforestry practices. The study was conducted on farmers’ fields in Golelcha District of East Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. The study was intended to evaluate the influence of coffee shade (under the canopy of Erythrina abyssinica and Cordia africana trees) on growth performance and  yield of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) and to get best coffee shade trees and appropriate distance of coffee seedling plantation area in which away from shade tree trunks. Randomized complete block design on three farmers’ fields as a replication in each PAs were used for data collection. A total of 48 circular samples were taken for treatments’ parameters, under both coffee shade tree species at the distance of 1m, 3m, 6 m and 25m away from shade tree trunk including unshaded zone. The two widely grown indigenous coffee shade tree species in the area were Cordia africana and Erythrina abyssinica. Even though farmers’ preference focused on Cordia africana tree based on its utility, the best results were recorded under Erythrina abyssinica tree. The outcome had a significant value at (p<0.05) and highly significance value at (p<0.01) between and within the treatments. Statistically significant comparison differences were observed between shaded and unshaded as well as within shaded effect based on the parameters across PAs. Integration of shade in coffee farming system created creditable promising in producing organic coffee. Shade utility was also adopted as ecologically sustainable, economically viable and socially acceptable practice. The second distance layer (3m) away from shade tree trunks illustrated the highest mean value across PAs in most parameters. Almost all the given coffee parameters’ value increased significantly under the tree canopy than in the open area in both PAs showing decreasing trend with increasing distance from the tree trunk. Average result of both PAs' coffee; the greater value of branch/coffee plant; 13%, and 19%, all fruits/ coffee plant; 5,060 and 9,740, thousand seed weight; 23% and 41% and  clean coffee yield/ ha in qtl; 3.25% and 6.1%, than open areas were detected under the canopies of Cordia africana and Erythrina abyssinica shade trees, respectively. The best shade tree was Erythrina abyssinica and the recommended distance of coffee seedling plantation area away from shade tree trunk was 3m. Generally, the vital signal of the treatment’s means difference were indicated between shaded and unshaded rather than within shaded means variation at most treatments’ parameters. Keywords: Coffee-based agroforestry system, physical Coffee yield and coffee shade valu