Growth, Yield and Yield Component of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) as Affected by Timing of Nitrogen Application

Sesame is an important cash crop and plays vital role in the livelihood of many people in Ethiopia. Nitrogen plays a key role in sesame production and it is required in large amount by any crop more than any mineral nutrient. Nitrogen timing is important crop management practices for improving N use efficiency and crop yields. Field experiment was conducted in northern Ethiopia during the rainy season of 2012 with the objective to evaluate the yield and yield response of sesame to nitrogen fertilizer application timings. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of nine nitrogen application timings viz. 100% of the recommended dose at planting time (T1), 100% of the recommended dose at first branching stage (T2), 100% of the recommended dose at early flower initiation (T3), 100% of the recommended dose at early pod setting (T4), 50% of the recommended dose at planting time and 50% of the recommended dose at first branching stage (T5), 50% of the recommended dose at planting time and 50% of the recommended dose at early flower initiation (T6), 50% of the recommended dose at planting time and 50% of the recommended dose at early pod setting (T7), 50% of the recommended dose at first branching stage and 50% of the recommended dose at early flower initiation (T8), 50% of the recommended at first branching stage and 50% of the recommended at early pod setting (T9). Results revealed that number of branches per plant, plant height, length of capsule bearing zone, number of capsules per plant and seed yield were significantly (p< 0.05) influenced by different time of nitrogen application treatments. The maximum values of the parameters, except grain yield, were obtained from T5 application timing. At the same time, the highest sesame seed yield per hectare was obtained from T8 application timings.  Keywords: Sesame, Sesamum indicum L., nitrogen fertilizer, Nitrogen application timings, seed yield

Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) in Northern Ghana : Impacts on Welfare, Environmental Reliance, and Agricultural Land Expansion

Sustainable agriculture has become an important issue in the development-policy agenda in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as a major avenue to simultaneously raise smallholder agricultural productivity and enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation. Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) are believed to play a vital role in addressing these issues while improving households' welfare. While literature provides robust evidence on the welfare impacts of SAPs in isolation, there is limited evidence on how combinations of SAPs contribute to households' welfare. Furthermore, previous experimental studies show that SAPs can reduce environmental footprints of agriculture by conserving organic matter, nitrogen fixation, increasing water infiltration, reducing soil erosion. However, the effect of SAPs on environmental outcomes such as household's reliance on environmental products and cropland expansion into forest areas is not well addressed. To shed light on these issues, we investigate the adoption and impacts of SAPs on welfare and environmental outcomes using a cross-sectional survey data collected from 421 household and 1229 plots from the Upper East Region of Ghana. The thesis comprises three primary chapters. In the first chapter, we estimate the adoption and impacts of different combinations of SAPs on crop income per acre and consumption expenditure per capita as welfare outcomes. It is found that adoption decisions are affected by household and plot characteristics. The adoption of SAPs either in isolation or in combinations significantly increases welfare. SAPs are however found to have a stronger effect when adopted as a package rather than in isolation. The effects of SAPs on households' environmental reliance are analysed in the second chapter. From the results, it is found that, on average, income from environmental resources account for about 30% of total household income. The adoption of different combinations of SAPs is found to reduce per capita environmental income by 7 to 15%. In addition, the adoption of different combinations of SAPs reduces the share of environmental income in total household income by 20 to 72%. The effect is higher when SAPs are adopted in combination than in isolation, confirming the synergistic effects of SAPs in reducing environmental pressure. In the third chapter, we analyse the effects of SAPs on cropland expansion into forest areas. It is found that about 20% of the households expanded their cropland into forest areas within the 12 months prior to the survey date and cleared about 0.21 acres on average. From the results of a two-stage churdel double hurdle model regression, we find no direct evidence of SAPs-induced cropland expansion into forest areas. In conclusion, this study provides empirical evidence on the adoption and welfare effects of different combinations of SAPs. Furthermore, this study extends the previous literature by analyzing the effects of SAPs on environmental outcomes, i.e., environmental reliance and cropland expansion into forest areas. This analysis helps us to understand if there are positive or negative 'indirect environmental benefits' of SAPs to the already known biophysical and economic benefits at the farm and household levels. It is found that SAPs have positive impacts on crop income and consumption expenditure and reduce environmental resources extraction (as a livelihood strategy). Recognition and promotion of SAPs from both welfare and environmental outcome perspectives could therefore prove worthwhile

Valuation of Soil Conservation Practices in Adwa Woreda, Ethiopia: A Contingent Valuation Study

Soil degradation is one of the most serious environmental problems in the high­lands of Ethiopia. The prevalence of traditional agricultural land use and the absence of appropriate resource management often result in the degradation of natural soil fertility in the country. Thus, in this study we have attempted to investigate the value that the farmers have attached to soil conservation practices and the determinants of willingness to pay for it using a Contingent Valuation Method. In the CVM survey, Double Bounded Dichotomous Choice format with an open ended follow up was used to elicit the households’ willingness to pay. Based on data collected from 218 respondents, probit model was employed to assess the determinants of willingness to pay. The model shows that age, sex, education level, family size, perception, tenure, Total Livestock Units and initial bid were the important variables in determining willingness to pay for soil conservation practices in the study area. Our study also shows that the mean willingness to pay (WTP) estimated from the Double Bounded Dichotomous Choice format was computed at 56.65 person days per household per annum. The respective total aggregate value of soil conservation in the study area (Adwa Woreda) was computed to be 1 373 592 person days per annum, which is equivalent to 16 483 104 Ethiopian Birr. Therefore, if new intervention program for soil conservation is to be implemented, policy makers should consider those factors for better results. In Our study, we found very few protest zeros only (1.8%) which shows CVM is suitable method for valuing non marketed goods in less developing countries like Ethiopia. Keywords: Contingent Valuation Method, Willingness to Pay, Soil Conservation, Double Bounded Dichotomous Choic

Gender, rainfall endowment, and farmers’ heterogeneity in wheat trait preference in Ethiopia

Paper presented at the 7th African Conference of Agricultural Economics, 18-21 September 2021, Durban, South Africa. More information on the conference can be found here: https://www.acae2023.org

Feasibility Study of Small Scale Standalone Wind Turbine for Urban Area : Case study: KTH Main Campus

The recent worldwide economic crisis, climate change and global warming have emphasized that the need for low carbon emissions while also ensuring the economic feasibility. In this paper, wind power potential of ETD in KTH was investigated. The technical and economical feasibility of tower mounted small scale standalone wind turbine installation is conducted. The potential of wind power production was statistically analysed. The average wind speed data of four-season interval of one year period (2011) which its measurement was taken on the roof top of the ETDB, and this was adopted and analysed in order to find out the potential of wind power generation. The Rayleigh distribution probability was applied to calculate the wind speed distribution at KTH, by doing so the annual wind power potential at the area and annual energy production of the chosen wind turbine was estimated, after the selection of a proper wind turbine have been made upon the site conditions. Therefore, the study result shows that installation of the wind turbine at 24 meters hub height for this particular area will have a better performance of annual energy production, capacity factor, carbon savings and better economical value than the current turbine installed at 17 meters height at the ETD. The economic evaluation shows that the turbine can save an electricity bill of US$3661.05 per year and cover 1.84% of the electricity consumption of the ETD by reducing its respective CO2 emission from the electricity use at the department. Moreover, the payback period of the turbine installation with the inclusion of the green certificate is approximately 14 years which is more feasible if it is considered for small wind turbines too, which is already in practice for renewables including wind power in Sweden

HOUSEHOLDS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN ADWA WOREDA, ETHIOPIA: A CONTINGENT VALUATION STUDY

Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental problems in the highlands of Ethiopia. The prevalence of traditional agricultural land use and the absence of appropriate resource management often result in the degradation of natural soil fertility in the country. Hence, this study assesses farm households‟ WTP for soil conservation practices through a CVM study. Double Bounded Dichotomous choice with an Open ended follow up format was used to elicit the households‟ willingness to pay. Based on data collected from 218 respondents, descriptive statistics indicated that most of the respondents have perceived the problem of soil erosion and are willing to pay for conservation practices. Probit model was employed to assess the determinants of willingness to pay. Results of the model shows that age of the household head, sex of the household head, education level of the household head, family size, perception, land tenure, Total Livestock Units and initial bid were the important variables in determining willingness to pay for soil conservation practices in the study area. The study also show that the mean willingness to pay estimated from the Double Bounded Dichotomous Choice and open ended formats was computed at 56.65 and 48.94 person days per annum, respectively. The respective total aggregate value of soil conservation in the study area (Adwa Woreda) was computed to be 1,373,592 (16,483,104 Birr) and 1,186,648.18 (14,239,778.16 Birr) per annum for five years, respectively. The results of the study have shown that socio economic characteristics of the household and other institutional factors are responsible for household‟s WTP for soil conservation practices. Therefore, policy and program intervention designed to address soil erosion problems in the study area have needed to take in to account these characteristics

Feasibility Study of Small Scale Standalone Wind Turbine for Urban Area : Case study: KTH Main Campus

The recent worldwide economic crisis, climate change and global warming have emphasized that the need for low carbon emissions while also ensuring the economic feasibility. In this paper, wind power potential of ETD in KTH was investigated. The technical and economical feasibility of tower mounted small scale standalone wind turbine installation is conducted. The potential of wind power production was statistically analysed. The average wind speed data of four-season interval of one year period (2011) which its measurement was taken on the roof top of the ETDB, and this was adopted and analysed in order to find out the potential of wind power generation. The Rayleigh distribution probability was applied to calculate the wind speed distribution at KTH, by doing so the annual wind power potential at the area and annual energy production of the chosen wind turbine was estimated, after the selection of a proper wind turbine have been made upon the site conditions. Therefore, the study result shows that installation of the wind turbine at 24 meters hub height for this particular area will have a better performance of annual energy production, capacity factor, carbon savings and better economical value than the current turbine installed at 17 meters height at the ETD. The economic evaluation shows that the turbine can save an electricity bill of US$3661.05 per year and cover 1.84% of the electricity consumption of the ETD by reducing its respective CO2 emission from the electricity use at the department. Moreover, the payback period of the turbine installation with the inclusion of the green certificate is approximately 14 years which is more feasible if it is considered for small wind turbines too, which is already in practice for renewables including wind power in Sweden

Combining sustainable agricultural practices pays off: evidence on welfare effects from Northern Ghana

Sustainable agricultural practices are being promoted across Africa. While literature provides robust evidence on their welfare impacts in isolation, there is limited evidence on how combinations of sustainable agricultural practices contribute to households’ welfare. Due to complementary and substitution effects and cost involved in adopting SAPs, combinations may have impacts that are higher or lower than individual effects. To shed light on this question we employ cross-sectional data from northern Ghana, which was collected from 421 households and 1229 plots. We investigate the adoption and impacts of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) on net crop income per acre and consumption expenditure per capita. We employed a maximum simulated likelihood estimation of a Multinomial Endogenous Treatment Effect Model (METEM) to account for observable and unobservable heterogeneity that influences SAP adoption decisions and the outcome variables. Our results reveal that adoption decisions are affected by household and plot level characteristics. We find that adoption of SAPs significantly increase net crop income and consumption expenditure except when soil & water conservation is adopted in isolation. Contrary to some previous studies elsewhere in Africa on this area, we find that SAPs have a stronger effect on income and expenditure when adopted as a package (all together) rather than in isolation or in sub groups

Consumption smoothing and price enhancement motives for grain storage: Empirical perspectives from rural Ethiopia

Consumption smoothing and temporal price arbitrage are the two main economic motives for grain storage in semi-subsistence economies. Nonetheless, little has been documented on the determinants of households' grain storage behavior. Using a rich panel data from maize producing households in Ethiopia, this paper investigates the determinants of households' decision to store grain for consumption and/or for the market. We found that grain storage is mainly determined by climatic factors, technological innovations, and shocks. Grain storage for consumption and for the markets are not mutually exclusive decisions. While the decisions made by the households to store maize for consumption and for the markets are influenced by a host of similar factors, the effects of climatic factors and infrastructure are found to be heterogeneous

A cross-region study: climate change adaptation in Malawi's agro-based systems

Agriculture in Malawi is vulnerable to the impacts of changing climate. Adaptation is identified as one of the options to abate the negative impacts of the changing climate. This study analyzed the factors influencing different climate change adaptation choices by smallholder farmers in Malawi. We sampled 900 farmers from all three regions of Malawi, using the multistage sampling procedure, study piloted in 2012. We analyzed smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptation choices with Multinomial logit regression. Factors that enhance or hinder choice of climate adaptation options include age, gender, household size, land ownership, credit access, climate change training and extension visit. Policy thrust should focus on linking farmers to credit institutions, advocating for labour saving farm technologies and intensification of climate change trainings among smallholder farmers