Identification of Major Field Crops Produced and Challenges Facing Farm Households in Case of Gerado Small Scale Irrigation Canal, Southern Wollo, Ethiopia

This study identified the major field crops produced and the challenges faced by farm households in Gerado small scale irrigation scheme in Amhara regional state, Northern Ethiopia. The study exploited both primary and secondary source of data. The primary data was obtained from 97 sampled irrigation using farm households through interview schedule. Moreover, the study also used FGD and key informants interview to obtain additional data. The secondary data was obtained from various reports, websites, literatures, journals and other sources, which are relevant to the study. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, percentage and range were used to analyze the collected data. Accordingly, the result of the study revealed that teff, wheat, barley and maize were the major cereal crops produced using small scale irrigation in the study area. In addition, the result also pointed out that carrot, potato, cabbage and tomato as the main root and tuber crops as well as vegetables produced by irrigation canal using farm households in the study area. Furthermore, the study figured out that lack of clear water use rights between users, shortage of fuels and lack of spare parts, marketing related problems, occurrence of disease and pests, high cost of imported farm inputs and others as the main constraints in exploiting the irrigation potential the study area has. Therefore, future actions should focus on implementing clear water use rights between users, supplying durable and efficient motor pump to the irrigating farm households, creating a market linkage that connects farmers with the consumer to have fair marketing margin distribution, encouraging and advising the farm households to produce variety of crops that have high market price and providing modern farm inputs at a reasonable and subsidized price by the concerned bodies will help the farmers to produce the desired farm products. Keywords: Crops, Farm household, Small Scale Irrigation canal, Geredo, Ethiopi

DIAGNOSIS BEFORE ACTION: A KAP SURVEY AS BASE LINE FOR A SCmSTOSOMIASIS CONTROL PILOT PROJECT IN KEMISE, WOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

ABSTRACT Findings from a KAP survey as base line for a schistosomiasis control pilot project is reported. illustrating elements of major concern in socio-economic and behavioural areas. The findings show that 50% of the respondents have been informed about schistosomiasIs but only 49% of those informed recognized it as a disease of any severity. Only 5% acknowledged the presence of a person suffering from schistosomiasis in their household and only half of them took the patient for modern medical care. Launderng was found to be one of the most common ways of contact with rivers (60%). followed by bathing (27%). More than a quarter of the respondents have also admitted to the use of the rivers (85%) as well as the protected well. as may be convenient. Most of the respondents use the morning hours for water contact. As far as excretion practices are concerned. 63% of the adults and 50% of the youngsters use latnnes. while the rest use the backyard or other open-fields. The large majority (73%) were willing to partic,pate in the control of schistosomasis. Finally. the need to consider sen"ously excreta disposal practices. water contact pattern. utilization of available health services. knowledge and attitude with regard to schistosomias is discussed

Production and Marketing Trends of Soy Bean in Ethiopia 2001-2017

This review investigates the status and trends of production and marketing of soy bean in Ethiopia. The high production record was obtained in 2015/16 production season, which is 81241.833 ton. But high yield (22 quintals per hectare) or (2.2 ton per hectare) was obtained during 2017 production season. Area covered by the crop from 2001/02 to 2016/17 production period shows uneven holding which moves up and down. This shows once the farmers produce the crop they ignore it coming year because of market problem of the crop. They even don’t know how to locally process it. This leads them to carelessly engage in production of the crop. This needs attention of future intervention either by government or nongovernmental organizations on area of improving farmers’ ability of processing soya bean, creation of favorable market condition for this crop. There is also high price fluctuation in the domestic market so it is very crucial to link commercially oriented small and large scale farmers to value chains. This means, industries engaged in processing of oil crops to produce edible oil need to be supported or encouraged to start processing soy bean. This needs a link with a group of soy bean producing farmers. Farmers need to be linked with soy bean processing factories as a result market is secured for farmers to become interested to engage in soy bean production. Promote soy production and processing among small holders, engaged in subsistence farming, for food security purposes. DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/59-02 Publication date: August 31st 201

Determinants of Smallholder Farmers Loan Repayment Performance in Assosa District, Western Ethiopia

There are a lot of options to deliver financial services to the rural poor. The aim of this study is to analyze determinants of loan repayment performance of smallholder farmers in a special reference Assosa woreda. Purposive sampling technique was used to select sample kebele. For this study a total of 1571households’ credit users and from these 94 households were selected randomly followed by probability proportional sample from Assosa woreda’. Both primary and secondary data were collected for this study. Primary data were collected by direct interview of sample respondents; whereas, secondary data were also collected from published and unpublished documents. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic profile of the respondent. And, logistic regression model was employed to identify factors influencing loan repayment performance of farmers. Out of the total thirteen explanatory variables included in the model, livestock ownership,  age, family size ,income from crop product ,get extension agent ,off farm income, and sex were found to be statistically significant in determining loan repayment performance of smallholder farmers. Therefore, the study suggests the identified significant variables to be a spring board for further interventions by financial cooperatives, stakeholders and policy makers so as to come with a breakthrough to significantly decrease or even avoid defaulting problems. Keywords: Determinants, smallholder farmer, loan, performanc

Identification of Major Field Crops Produced and Challenges Facing Farm Households in Case of Gerado Small Scale Irrigation Canal, Southern Wollo, Ethiopia

This study identified the major field crops produced and the challenges faced by farm households in Gerado small scale irrigation scheme in Amhara regional state, Northern Ethiopia. The study exploited both primary and secondary source of data. The primary data was obtained from 97 sampled irrigation using farm households through interview schedule. Moreover, the study also used FGD and key informants interview to obtain additional data. The secondary data was obtained from various reports, websites, literatures, journals and other sources, which are relevant to the study. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, percentage and range were used to analyse the collected data. Accordingly, the result of the study revealed that teff, wheat, barley and maize were the major cereal crops produced using small scale irrigation in the study area. In addition, the result also pointed out that carrot, potato, cabbage and tomato as the main root and tuber crops as well as vegetables produced by irrigation canal using farm households in the study area. Furthermore, the study figured out that lack of clear water use rights between users, shortage of fuels and lack of spare parts, marketing related problems, occurrence of disease and pests, high cost of imported farm inputs and others as the main constraints in exploiting the irrigation potential the study area has. Therefore, future actions should focus on implementing clear water use rights between users, supplying durable and efficient motor pump to the irrigating farm households, creating a market linkage that connects farmers with the consumer to have fair marketing margin distribution, encouraging and advising the farm households to produce variety of crops that have high market price and providing modern farm inputs at a reasonable and subsidized price by the concerned bodies will help the farmers to produce the desired farm products. Keywords: Crops, Farm household, Small Scale Irrigation canal, Geredo, Ethiopi

Hydropower Dam-Based Rural Electrification in Ethiopia: The Case of Amerti-Nashe Hydropower Plant, Horo Guduru Wollega Zone

Expanding electricity access and energy in rural areas is a central policy issue in Ethiopia. The hydropower plant is one of the solutions to solve the shortage of electric energy in remote rural areas. This research deals with Amerti-Nashe dams induced rural electrification in western Ethiopia. The main objectives of this study were to investigate the rural electrification impact of small dams on local communities in Ethiopia in the case of the Ameri Nashi dams. The study collected primary data from a sample of 316 households who live in the vicinity of the dam. Statistical analysis such as Chi-square test, paired t-test, and binary logistics model were performed to determine differences in energy distribution, use of energy before and after the dam project, energy adoption status, challenges of households to adopt electric energy and energy impacts. The result of the research shows that more than half of the population was not provided energy from the nearby Ameri-Nashe and Fincha dams and instead the majority of the population of the zone depends on traditional fuel as a source of energy.  There was a disparity in the distribution of electric energy among the sample households due to different factors like distance from grid line unaffordable cost of adoption, and grid-based electric energy. Keywords: hydropower plant, rural electrification, socio-economic impact, Horo Gudru DOI: 10.7176/JETP/14-1-03 Publication date: January 31st 202

What Role Should Civil Society Organizations Play to Address Ethnic Conflicts in Ethiopia?

The Ethiopian people are ethnically heterogeneous, speaking multiplicity languages comprising of more than 100 groups. Hence, the country presents a mosaic of nationalities, each speaking a dialect of one of more than 70 languages and has a long history of rich culture and strong social values. Although there were some ethnic-conflicts, that go back a long way, among few of the ethnic groups (mainly for control over resources, such as grazing land, water points, cultivable land), people solved such conflicts using their own conflict resolution mechanism; for instance elders meeting and community tribunal system. The indigenous civil society groups have also played a great role in resolving and preventing violent ethnic conflict. However, since the current ruling party, the Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) took power in May 1991; there have been a number of violent ethnic conflicts widespread throughout the country. Though accurate statistics are hard to come by, various reports and testimonials in all regional states been witness to frequent violent conflicts that have claimed the lives of thousands of people and accounted for the destruction of public properties. The paper tries to show the overall feature of conflict in the country and forward some recommendations on roles CSOs should play in addressing ethnic conflicts

The Role of Income Diversification on Risk Management and Rural Household Food Security in Ethiopia

This review synthesized the role of income diversification on risk management and rural household food security in Ethiopia. According to this review, from different researchers, farmers are engaged in a variety of off farm & non-farm activities to diversify their income with view to feed and sustain themselves during crop failures even if research and extension activities have not been done adequately on the issues related to off/non-farm activities .Income diversification of households based on share of income from each sources show that, the share of crop income takes the highest share  of the total household income followed by livestock income. So those, majority of farm households are mainly engaged in farming with few off-farm and/or non-farm activities. For instance, only 27 percent of Ethiopian farm households were engaged in nonfarm entrepreneurship and derive 50 percent or more of their income from nonfarm enterprises. When farming becomes less profitable and more risky as a result of population growth and crop and market failures, households are pushed into non/off-farm activities, leading to “distress-push” diversification. The relative reduction of the importance of agriculture and the expansion in rural off/nonfarm activities and income diversification are likely features of the process of economic development because it is a means for risk management as a form of self-insurance. As the food security researchers, about 10% of Ethiopia’s citizens are chronically food insecure and this figure rises to more than 15% during frequent drought years. Depending on reviewed document, to address food security issue in Ethiopia, the household head and members of the household should engage in different income generating activities for means of living and coping mechanism

Value Added Tax (VAT) Administration and Revenue Performance: Challenges and Opportunities in the Mekelle Branch of the Ethiopian Revenue and Custom Authority (ERCA)

As most of the developing countries do, Ethiopia was highly dependent on external financial resources to finance its development activities. For many decades, the tax contribution to GDP was very less and this needs an improvement. On the other hand, the Ethiopian Government has a strong belief and commitment to eradicate poverty and assure sustainable development; and it is impossible to achieve such a goal without generating sufficient revenue that can cover at least the budget of the government. To narrow the gap, VAT was introduced before seven years and is showing dramatic changes in generating government revenue. Hence, this research tries to fill the gap that existed in VAT administration and revenue generation in the branch office. The research had an objective of investigating how VAT was administered and performed in the last five year (in terms of efficiency and effectiveness) at the Mekelle Branch of the Revenue and Customs Authority. In order to attain the stated objective, after the taxpayers are stratified, 120 taxpayers were randomly selected using systematic random sampling and 20 tax officers were purposely selected and then all were required to fill the questionnaire that was prepared for that purpose. In addition, secondary data was used and analyzed, mainly to show the trend of the last five years. Ate federal level, a total amount of 13.78 billion birr was collected from the Inland Revenue in the form of VAT at Federal level in five years time. In the Mekelle Branch of the Revenue and Customs Authority, a total amount of 879.4 million birr is collected in the last five years (1997 E.C. – 2001 E.C.) and out of this, 782.36 million (88.96%) is collected from VAT. In the process of VAT administration and revenue generation, different problems were observed, the main ones being attitudinal problem of the tax payers and implementation capacity of the government employees. As a result, the data show that there are many business men and companies that should be registered for VAT but are not. As a result, the branch office is losing millions of birr per year. The opportunities and challenges of the VAT administration of the branch office is well-studied and as a result recommendations are made on the issues. Changing the attitude of the taxpayers and building the implementation capacity of the employees of the branch office are some of the important recommendations made by the study. It is also suggested that further research on the area is needed and it is important and timely to make collaborations with the nearby universities such as the Mekelle University and Axum University

err aA spatial evaluation of socio demographics surrounding National Priorities List sites in Florida using a distance-based approach

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the last two decades, various spatial techniques have been demonstrated using geographical information systems (GIS) to adequately estimate and characterize inequities of minority populations living near environmentally hazardous facilities. However, these methods have produced mixed results. In this study, we use recently developed variations of the "distance based" approach to spatially evaluate and compare demographic and socioeconomic disparities surrounding the worst hazardous waste sites in Florida.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used data from the 2000 US Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to identify selected socio and economic variables within one (1) mile of 71 National Priorities List (NPL) or Superfund sites in Florida. ArcMap (ESRI, v. 9.2) was used to map the centroid locations of each of the NPL sites as well as identify and estimate the number of host and non-host tracts. The unit of analysis in this study was at the census tract level. Logistic regression (SAS v9.1.3) was used to determine if race/ethnicity and socioeconomic indicators are significant predictors of the location of NPL sites.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were significant differences in race/ethnicity composition and socio-economic factors between NPL host census tracts and non-host census tracts in Florida. The percentages of Blacks (OR = 5.7, p < 0.001), the percentage of Hispanic/Latino (OR = 5.84, p < 0.001), and percent employed in blue collar occupations (OR = 2.7, p < 0.01) were significant predictors of location of NPL facilities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The recently developed distance-based method supports previous studies and suggests that race and ethnicity play substantial roles in where hazardous facilities are located in Florida. Recommendations include using distance-based methods to evaluate socio and demographic characteristics surrounding other less known environmental hazardous facilities, such as landfills, or Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites.</p