Genotype x environment interaction and stability analysis for yield and yield related traits of Kabuli-type Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Ethiopia

Chickpea is the major pulse crop cultivated in Ethiopia. However, its production is constrained due to genotype instability and environmental variability. This research was carried out to examine the magnitude of environmental effect on yield of chickpea genotypes and to investigate the stability and adaptability of genotypes under different agro-ecologies. Seventeen (17) genotypes were evaluated in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications in five locations. Various stability indices were used to assess stability and genotype by environment performances. Combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) for yield and yield components revealed highly significant (P≤0.01) differences for genotypes, environments and their interaction. The significant interaction showed genotypes respond differently across environments. At Akaki, Chefe Donsa, Debre Zeit, Dembia and Haramaya, top performing genotype were DZ-2012-CK-0001 (2933 kg/ha), Arerti (3219 kg/ha), Arerti (3560 kg/ha) DZ-2012-CK-0013 (2675 kg/ha) and Arerti (2019 kg/ha), respectively. The first two PCs explained 74.45% of the variance. Based on ASV value, DZ-2012-CK-0002 were most stable genotypes. As per AMMI biplot, Arerti and DZ-10-4 were most widely adapted genotypes. Dembia and Haramaya were most discriminative environments for genotypes. Debre Zeit and Chefe Donsa were favorable environment for genotype. Genotypes DZ-2012-CK-0004, DZ-2012-CK-0010, DZ-2012-CK-0013, DZ-2012-CK-0007 and DZ-10-4 are recommendable to Akaki, Chefe Donsa, Debre Zeit, Dembia and Haramya, respectively.Keywords: AMMI, ASV, clustering, phenologic traits, Kabuli, univariate statistics.Abbreviation: E, Environments; G, genotypes; RCBD, randomized complete block design.

STABILITY ANALYSIS OF FOOD BARLEY GENOTYPES IN NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

Barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the founder crops of the old world agriculture and was one of the first domesticated cereals. The objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of genotype x environment interaction and stability for barley grain yield and yield related traits in the growing areas of Tigray. Eight nationally released varieties, together with four farmers\u2019 varieties, were planted in randomised complete block design, with three replications. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis of grain yield showed that environment, and GEI were highly significant (P<0.01), whereas variations due to genotypes were not significant. They accounted for 72.21, 9.16, and 4.47% of the total sum of squares, respectively. Large sum of squares indicated that the environments were diverse; causing most of the variation in grain yield. The multiplicative variance of the treatment sum of squares due to GEI was partitioned into the interaction principal component axes IPCA1, IPCA2 and IPCA3, which explained 58.06, 27.11 and 14.82% of the interaction sum of squares, respectively; but only the IPCA1 was highly significant. Atena, Shediho, Basso and Agegnehu with a lower IPCA1 score, were stable genotypes; whereas HB-1307, Estayish, Himbilil and Yidogit with relatively higher IPCA1 scores were unstable genotypes. The same was observed in ASV as AMMI stability. Maychew, with a low IPCA value was favourable environment for all genotypes; whereas Korem with a high IPCA score was unfavourable one.L\u2019orge ( Hordeum vulgare L.) est une culture de l\u2019agriculture antique et \ue9tait l\u2019une des premi\ue8res c\ue9r\ue9ales domestiqu\ue9es. Un essai \ue9tait fait pour estimer le niveau d\u2019interaction g\ue9notype x environnement et la stabilit\ue9 du rendement en grains et autres traits de rendement de l\u2019orge dans les milieux de Tigray. Huit vari\ue9t\ue9s diffus\ue9es dans le pays et les vari\ue9t\ue9s locales des fermiers, \ue9taient plant\ue9es en bloc complet randomis\ue9 avec trois r\ue9p\ue9titions. Les effets principaux additifs et l\u2019analyse de l\u2019interaction multiplicative du rendement en grains a montr\ue9 que l\u2019l\u2019interaction environnement et GEI \ue9taient hautement significatif (P<0.01), pendant que les variations dues aux g\ue9notypes n\u2019\ue9taient pas significatives. Elles comptaient pour 72.21, 9.16, et 4.47% de la somme totale des carr\ue9s, respectivement. Une large somme des carr\ue9s pour les environnements indiquait que les environnements \ue9taient divers, causant ainsi la plupart des variations dans le rendement en grain. La variance multiplicative de la somme des carr\ue9s des traitements due au GEI \ue9tait partitionn\ue9e dans l\u2019interaction des axes des composantes IPCA1, IPCA2, et IPCA3 expliquant les 58.06, 27.11 et 14.82% d\u2019interaction de la somme des carr\ue9s, respectivement, mais seul le IPCA1 \ue9tait hautement significatif. Atena, Shediho, Basso et Agegnehu dot\ue9s d\u2019un IPCA1 plus bas constituaient des g\ue9notypes stables, alors que HB-1307, Estayish, Himbilil et Yidogit avaient enregistr\ue9s un IPCA1 plus \ue9lev\ue9 et constituaient des g\ue9notypes instables. Ceci \ue9tait observ\ue9 sur ASV comme stabilit\ue9 de l\u2019AMMI. Maychew avec une valeur basse de l\u2019IPCA constituait un environnement favorable pour tous les g\ue9notypes alors que Korem avec son IPCA plus \ue9lev\ue9 \ue9tait d\ue9favorable

Role of institutional and socio-economic factors on adoption, dis-adoption and non-adoption of soil and water conservation technologies: Empirical evience from the North Western Ethiopia highlands.

ABSTRACT In order to combat land degradation in the form of water erosion and fertility depletion in the Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia farmers are of crucial importance. If they perceive land degradation as a problem they will be more willing to invest in land management measures. This study presents farmers’ perceptions of land degradation, respective investments, and factors influencing their investments in land. In this study, water erosion and fertility depletion are taken as main indicators of land degradation. Results show that farmers perceive water erosion and soil fertility depletion as problems that have intensified over the last decade. However, despite awareness of these problems, farmers’ investments to control soil erosion and soil fertility depletion are very limited. This study shows that the major factors that positively influence farmers’ investments in land management practices are households’ resource endowments, access to information, social capital and availability of family labor. For sustainable land management strategies this implies that these should (i) be integrated within a comprehensive rural development strategy that generates improvements of farmers’ livelihoods and their financial capacity, (ii) trigger social capital and create enabling conditions for farmers to participate in different groups, cross site visits and farmer-to-farmer experience sharing, and (iii) stimulate collective action within the villages in order to enhance access to labor which is crucial for carrying out land management practices. Key words: Land degradation, farmers’ investments, sustainable land management, socioeconomic factors, factor analysi

Performance of Local Light Microscopy and the ParaScreen Pan/Pf Rapid Diagnostic Test to Detect Malaria in Health Centers in Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Diagnostic tests are recommended for suspected malaria cases before treatment, but comparative performance of microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) at rural health centers has rarely been studied compared to independent expert microscopy. Methods: Participants (N = 1997) with presumptive malaria were recruited from ten health centers with a range of transmission intensities in Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia during October to December 2007. Microscopy and ParaScreen Pan/PfH RDT were done immediately by health center technicians. Blood slides were re-examined later at a central laboratory by independent expert microscopists. Results: Of 1,997 febrile patients, 475 (23.8%) were positive by expert microscopists, with 57.7 % P.falciparum, 24.6 % P.vivax and 17.7 % mixed infections. Sensitivity of health center microscopists for any malaria species was.90 % in five health centers (four of which had the highest prevalence),.70 % in nine centers and 44 % in one site with lowest prevalence. Specificity for health center microscopy was very good (.95%) in all centers. For ParaScreen RDT, sensitivity was $90$70 % in six and,60 % in four centers. Specificity was $90 % in all centers except one where it was 85%. Conclusions: Health center microscopists performed well in nine of the ten health centers; while for ParaScreen RDT they performed well in only six centers. Overall the accuracy of local microscopy exceeded that of RDT for all outcomes. Thi

Developing and piloting location-specific fertilizer recommendation for wheat in Ethiopia

This report covers the progress of developing and piloting location-specific fertilizer and agroclimate advisory service for Wheat in Ethiopia. The report highlights the major activities implemented during the 2022 cropping season including (1) review of organic fertilizer recommendations for wheat; (2) generation of location-specific fertilizer rate (LSFR) for piloting; (3) developing kebele map for LSFR recommendation; (4) video preparation for demo training; (5) trainings organized on piloting LSFR advisory and map reading; (6) LSFR advisory reach and adoption; (7) Alliance and partners pilot trial field visits during the main wheat season; (8) field days organized ; and (9) certificate of appreciation awarded to Alliance and its partners. The main purpose of the report is to narrative the processes associated with the development of agroadvisory and its piloting in the highlands of Ethiopia

Leadership in strategic information (LSI) building skilled public health capacity in Ethiopia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In many developing countries, including Ethiopia, few have the skills to use data for effective decision making in public health. To address this need, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with two local Ethiopian organizations, developed a year long Leadership in Strategic Information (LSI) course to train government employees working in HIV to use data from strategic information sources. A process evaluation of the LSI course examined the impact of the training on trainees' skills and the strengths and weaknesses of the course. The evaluation consisted of surveys and focus groups.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Trainees' skill sets increased in descriptive and analytic epidemiology, surveillance, and monitoring and evaluation (M and E). Data from the evaluation indicated that the course structure and the M and E module required revision in order to improve outcomes. Additionally, the first cohort had a high attrition rate. Overall, trainees and key stakeholders viewed LSI as important in building skilled capacity in public health in Ethiopia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The evaluation provided constructive insight in modifying the course to improve retention and better address trainees' learning needs. Subsequent course attrition rates decreased as a result of changes made based on evaluation findings.</p

Harnessing inter-disciplinary collaboration to improve emergency care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): results of research prioritisation setting exercise

Background More than half of deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) result from conditions that could be treated with emergency care - an integral component of universal health coverage (UHC) - through timely access to lifesaving interventions. Methods The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to extend UHC to a further 1 billion people by 2023, yet evidence supporting improved emergency care coverage is lacking. In this article, we explore four phases of a research prioritisation setting (RPS) exercise conducted by researchers and stakeholders from South Africa, Egypt, Nepal, Jamaica, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea and Phillipines, USA and UK as a key step in gathering evidence required by policy makers and practitioners for the strengthening of emergency care systems in limited-resource settings. Results The RPS proposed seven priority research questions addressing: identification of context-relevant emergency care indicators, barriers to effective emergency care; accuracy and impact of triage tools; potential quality improvement via registries; characteristics of people seeking emergency care; best practices for staff training and retention; and cost effectiveness of critical care – all within LMICs. Conclusions Convened by WHO and facilitated by the University of Sheffield, the Global Emergency Care Research Network project (GEM-CARN) brought together a coalition of 16 countries to identify research priorities for strengthening emergency care in LMICs. Our article further assesses the quality of the RPS exercise and reviews the current evidence supporting the identified priorities

Harnessing inter-disciplinary collaboration to improve emergency care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): results of research prioritisation setting exercise

Background More than half of deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) result from conditions that could be treated with emergency care - an integral component of universal health coverage (UHC) - through timely access to lifesaving interventions. Methods The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to extend UHC to a further 1 billion people by 2023, yet evidence supporting improved emergency care coverage is lacking. In this article, we explore four phases of a research prioritisation setting (RPS) exercise conducted by researchers and stakeholders from South Africa, Egypt, Nepal, Jamaica, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea and Phillipines, USA and UK as a key step in gathering evidence required by policy makers and practitioners for the strengthening of emergency care systems in limited-resource settings. Results The RPS proposed seven priority research questions addressing: identification of context-relevant emergency care indicators, barriers to effective emergency care; accuracy and impact of triage tools; potential quality improvement via registries; characteristics of people seeking emergency care; best practices for staff training and retention; and cost effectiveness of critical care – all within LMICs. Conclusions Convened by WHO and facilitated by the University of Sheffield, the Global Emergency Care Research Network project (GEM-CARN) brought together a coalition of 16 countries to identify research priorities for strengthening emergency care in LMICs. Our article further assesses the quality of the RPS exercise and reviews the current evidence supporting the identified priorities

Respectful maternity care in Ethiopian public health facilities

Background: Disrespect and abuse of women during institutional childbirth services is one of the deterrents to utilization of maternity care services in Ethiopia and other low- and middle-income countries. This paper describes the prevalence of respectful maternity care (RMC) and mistreatment of women in hospitals and health centers, and identifies factors associated with occurrence of RMC and mistreatment of women during institutional labor and childbirth services. Methods: This study had a cross sectional study design. Trained external observers assessed care provided to 240 women in 28 health centers and hospitals during labor and childbirth using structured observation checklists. The outcome variable, providers' RMC performance, was measured by nine behavioral descriptors. The outcome, any mistreatment, was measured by four items related to mistreatment of women: physical abuse, verbal abuse, absence of privacy during examination and abandonment. We present percentages of the nine RMC indicators, mean score of providers' RMC performance and the adjusted multilevel model regression coefficients to determine the association with a quality improvement program and other facility and provider characteristics. Results: Women on average received 5.9 (66%) of the nine recommended RMC practices. Health centers demonstrated higher RMC performance than hospitals. At least one form of mistreatment of women was committed in 36% of the observations (38% in health centers and 32% in hospitals). Higher likelihood of performing high level of RMC was found among male vs. female providers ((beta) over cap = 0: 65, p = 0.012), midwives vs. other cadres ((beta) over cap = 0: 88, p = 0.002), facilities implementing a quality improvement approach, Standards-based Management and Recognition (SBM-R (c)) ((beta) over cap = 1: 31, p = 0.003), and among laboring women accompanied by a companion (beta) over cap = 0: 99, p = 0.003). No factor was associated with observed mistreatment of women. Conclusion: Quality improvement using SBM-R (c) and having a companion during labor and delivery were associated with RMC. Policy makers need to consider the role of quality improvement approaches and accommodating companions in promoting RMC. More research is needed to identify the reason for superior RMC performance of male providers over female providers and midwives compared to other professional cadre, as are longitudinal studies of quality improvement on RMC and mistreatment of women during labor and childbirth services in public health facilities