Dairy production and Marketing in Mekelle Town, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Dairy production and Marketing was studied on 168 dairy farms consisting of 85 cross breed (40 medium sizes and 45 small sizes) and 83 local breed (30 medium sizes and 53 small sizes) cows owning farms in Mekelle town. Cobb-Douglas production, cost-benefit (C: B) and break-even ratios were employed to assess resource use efficiency and profitability and financial efficiency of cross and local breed dairy farms. The regression coefficients with respect to concentrate for medium and small size cross breed farms are positive and significant at 10% level. The coefficient of dry fodder for medium size cross breed and local breed are positive and significant at 10% level. For small and medium size local breed farms, the coefficient for dry fodder is positive and significant at 5% level and labor is positive and significant at 5% level in the case of small size cross breed. For small and medium size local breed farms, the coefficient for miscellaneous are positive and significant at 10% level. There is difference between the present and optimum levels of inputs. The optimum levels of inputs with respect to concentrate are 30.21 quintal and 24.82 quintals for medium and small size cross breed farms, respectively. For dry fodder, the optimum is 32.70 quintals and 12.84 quintal for medium size cross and local breed farms, respectively. where as, 8.88 quintals for small size local breed farms. Green fodder, the optimum level is 10.88 quintals for medium size local breed farms. The optimum level for labor is 403.12 man day for small size cross breed farms. For miscellaneous cost the optimum levels are 228.54 Birr and 336.47 Birr for medium and small size local bred farms, respectively. The C:B results indicated that cross breed farms were profitable (1.0:3.02) than local breed farms (1.0:2.18). Both medium and small categories of cross breed farms were profitable (1.0:3.45 and 1.0:2.74, respectively). In local breed medium size farms were profitable (1.0:2.19). The ratio of break-even milk output from the actual milk production for cross breed and local breed cows owning farms needed 13% of the actual milk production and 18% additional milk production over the actual milk production to cover fixed cost, respectively. Cross breed small and medium size farms needed 8% and 11% milk output and local breed small and medium size farms requires additional 31% and 14% over the actual milk production. In conclusion, dairy cow's owner should be advised to use the optimum levels inputs and replace their indigenous cow with cross breed cow. More over, the herds should be medium size and feeding mainly depends on concentrate

Volatile profile of green coffee beans from Coffea arabica L. plants grown at different altitudes in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT. This study was aimed to identify volatile compounds of 31 green coffee bean samples and evalute their correlation with altitude of the coffee plants grown in two zones (Gedeo and Jimma) in Ethiopia. A total of 81 different compounds were detected. The contents of dominant volatile compounds in green coffee beans were in the range: trans-linalooloxide (3.24⎯19.13%), linalool (1.56⎯21.76%), 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (2.34⎯15.08%) and cis-linalooloxide (1.03⎯13.27%). In addition, benzene acetaldehyde (0.45⎯10.97%), 2-heptanol (0.67⎯8.49%), ⍺-terpineol (0.64⎯6.52%), phenylethyl alcohol (0.44⎯4.98%) and furfural (0.92⎯5.3%) were the next dominant compounds. The volatile compounds identified in the green coffee beans are groups of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, pyrazines, pyridines, and furans. The volatile compounds in green coffee beans showed either weak positive or weak negative correlation with the altitude of coffee plants indicating that variation in altitude of the coffee plants does not significantly influence the volative compounds of green coffee beans.               KEY WORDS: Coffea arabica L., Coffee plants, Green coffee beans, Volatile compounds, Effect of altitudes, Heterocyclic compounds Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2019, 33(3), 401-413.   DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v33i3.

Using qualitative methods to explore lay explanatory models, health-seeking behaviours and self-care practices of podoconiosis patients in north-west Ethiopia

Background: Podoconiosis (endemic non-filarial elephantiasis) is a chronic, non-infectious disease resulting from exposure of bare feet to red-clay soil in tropical highlands. This study examined lay beliefs about three under-researched aspects of podoconiosis patients’ care: explanatory models, health-seeking behaviours and self-care. Methods: In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were undertaken with 34 participants (19 male, 15 female) between April-May 2015 at podoconiosis treatment centres across East and West Gojjam regions in north-west Ethiopia. Results: Explanatory models for podoconiosis included contamination from blood, magic, soil or affected individuals. Belief in heredity or divine punishment often delayed clinic attendance. All participants had tried holy water treatment and some, holy soil. Herbal treatments were considered ineffectual, costly and appeared to promote fluid escape. Motivators for clinic attendance were failure of traditional treatments and severe or disabling symptoms. Patients did not report self-treatment with antibiotics. Self-care was hindered by water being unavailable or expensive and patient fatigue. Conclusion: A pluralistic approach to podoconiosis self-treatment was discovered. Holy water is widely valued, though some patients prefer holy soil. Priests and traditional healers could help promote self-care and “signpost” patients to clinics. Change in behaviour and improving water access is key to self-care

Viral diseases affecting chickpea crops in Eritrea

A survey to identify virus diseases affecting chickpea crops in the major production areas of Eritrea was conducted during November 2005. The survey covered 31 randomly selected chickpea fi elds. Virus disease incidence was determined on the basis of laboratory testing of 100–200 randomly collected samples from each fi eld against antisera of 9 legume viruses. Serological tests indicated that the Luteoviruses were the most common, with an overall incidence of 5.6%, followed by Faba bean necrotic yellows virus (FBNYV, genus Nanovirus, family Nanoviridae) (4.1%) and Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV, genus Mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae) (0.9%). The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test showed that the most common luteoviruses in Eritrea are Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus (CpCSV) followed by Beet western yellows virus (BWYV, genus Polerovirus, family Luteoviridae). Based on the fi eld symptoms observed, 29 fi elds had, at the time of the survey, a virus disease incidence of 1% or less and only two fi elds had an incidence of about 5%, whereas on the basis of laboratory testing, 19 fi elds had more than 6% virus incidence (three of these had an incidence of 29.5, 34.5 and 40.5%). This is the fi rst survey of chickpea viruses in Eritrea and the fi rst report of BWYV, CpCDV, CpCSV and FBNYV naturally infecting chickpea in Eritrea

Exploring barriers to the use of formal maternal health services and priority areas for action in Sidama zone, southern Ethiopia.

In 2015 the maternal mortality ratio for Ethiopia was 353 per 100,000 live births. Large numbers of women do not use maternal health services. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the use of maternal health services at the primary health care unit (PHCU) level in rural communities in Sidama zone, south Ethiopia in order to design quality improvement interventions. We conducted a qualitative study in six woredas in 2013: 14 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 44 in-depth interviews with purposefully selected community members (women, male, traditional birth attendants, local kebele administrators), health professionals and health extension workers (HEWs) at PHCUs. We digitally recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed the interviews and FGDs using Nvivo. The 'three delay model' informed the analytical process and discussion of barriers to the use of maternal health services. Lack of knowledge on danger signs and benefits of maternal health services; cultural and traditional beliefs; trust in TBAs; lack of decision making power of women, previous negative experiences with health facilities; fear of going to an unfamiliar setting; lack of privacy and perceived costs of maternal health services were the main factors causing the first delay in deciding to seek care. Transport problems in inaccessible areas were the main contributing factor for the second delay on reaching care facilities. Lack of logistic supplies and equipment, insufficient knowledge and skills and unprofessional behaviour of health workers were key factors for the third delay in accessing quality care. Use of maternal health services at the PHCU level in Sidama zone is influenced by complex factors within the community and health system. PHCUs should continue to implement awareness creation activities to improve knowledge of the community on complications of pregnancy and benefits of maternal health services. The health system has to be responsive to community's cultural norms and practices. The mangers of the woreda health office and health centres should take into account the available budgets; work on ensuring the necessary logistics and supplies to be in place at PHCU

Podoconiosis, trachomatous trichiasis and cataract in northern Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

Background: Rural populations in low-income countries commonly suffer from the co-morbidity of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Podoconiosis, trachomatous trichiasis (both NTDs) and cataract are common causes of morbidity among subsistence farmers in the highlands of northern Ethiopia. We explored whether podoconiosis was associated with cataract or trachomatous trichiasis (TT) among this population. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in East Gojam region, Amhara, Ethiopia in May 2016 . Data were collected from patients previously identified as having podoconiosis and from matched healthy neighbourhood controls. Information on socio- demographic factors, clinical factors and past medical history were collected by an interview-administered questionnaire. Clinical examination involved grading of podoconiosis by examination of both legs, measurement of visual acuity, direct ophthalmoscopy of dilated pupils to grade cataract, and eyelid and corneal examination to grade trachoma. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to estimate independent association and correlates of podoconiosis, TT and cataract. Findings: A total of 700 participants were included in this study; 350 podoconiosis patients and 350 healthy neighbourhood controls. The prevalence of TT was higher among podoconiosis patients than controls (65 (18.6%) vs 43 (12.3%)) with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.55 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.12 - 2.11), p=0.05. There was no significant difference in 3 prevalence of cataract between the two populations with an adjusted OR 0.83 (95% CI 0.55-1.38), p=0.37. Mean best visual acuity was 0.59 (SD +/- 0.06) in podoconiosis cases compared to 0.44 (SD +/- 0.04) in controls, p=< 0.001. The proportion of patients classified as blind was higher in podoconiosis cases compared with healthy controls; 5.6% vs 2.0%; adjusted OR 2.63 (1.08-6.39), P = 0.03. Conclusions Individuals with podoconiosis have a higher burden of TT and worse visual acuity than their matched healthy neighbourhood controls. Further research into the environmental and biological reasons for this co-morbidity is required. A shared approach to managing these two NTDs within the same population could be beneficial