Physiochemical characteristics of honey obtained from traditional and modern hive production systems in Tigray region, northern Ethiopia

This study was conducted with the objective to determine the  physiochemical characteristics of Tigray honey (n= 38) and to compare the quality honey of Tigray with those described in the Quality Standard Authority of Ethiopia, Codex Standard and European Honey Directive. Honey samples were collected from traditional hives (n =19) and modern hives (n=19) production systems. Physiochemical characteristics evaluated were: color, moisture, reducing sugar, sucrose, acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), mineral content, pH, water insoluble solids and specific gravity. All parameters were analyzed following the techniques proposed by the Codex Standard for Honey. A statistical analysis using GMP5 soft ware was utilized to determine the differences in quality between honey from traditional and modern hive production systems. The average content of mineral, moisture, acidity, invert sugar, pH, sucrose, specific gravity and water insoluble solids in traditional hive honey samples were 22%, 18.25%, 29.89 meq kg-1, 70.95%, 4.13, 2.37%, 1.41 and 0.07%, respectively. On the other hand, the corresponding values for honey samples from modern hive production system were 0.18%, 18.60%, 29.12meqkg-1, 71.42 %, 4.04, 2.71%, 1.40, and 0.03%, respectively. Consequently, no significant differences (p> 0.05) were found in all the quality parameters except for water insoluble solids. The mean value for HMF was 11.18 mgkg-1 for the processed honey and the color of the honey varied from white to amber with light amber (55.26%) being the predominant color of the honey in Tigray. All the honey samples met the Codex Standard, QSAE and EU physiochemical quality Standard limits for honey except water insoluble solids in traditional hive production system. Water insoluble solids were found in 26.32% of the samples examined which will have to be improved through intensive training and experience sharing.Key word: Honey, Quality, Physiochemical characteristics, Tigra

Assessment of vitamin A supplementation coverage and its association with childhood illness in Boloso Sore Woreda, Welayta Zone, SNNP Region, Ethiopia

Background: Vitamin A plays vital role in the physiology of vision and immunity. Globally quarters of a billion children are Vitamin A deficient. Vitamin A supplementation of children and mothers during postpartum period is a key strategy to avert the deficiency. However the effect of Vitamin A supplementation on incidence of childhood illnesses is controversial. Objective: To assess the effect of Vitamin A supplementation on the reduction of common childhood illnesses, and to measure the coverage of vitamin A supplementation among children aged 6-59 months and mothers during postpartum period. Methods: A retrospective cohort study which involves comparison between Vitamin A supplemented and nonsupplemented children was conducted in Feb 2008 in Boloso Sore Woreda, Wolayta Zone, SNNPR. A total of 1601 children aged 6-59 months were selected using Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling technique. Results: Vitamin A supplementation coverage among children (6-59 months) was 83.1% and among women (in postpartum period) who had given birth in the preceding 12 months of the survey was 13.2%. In comparison with the corresponding level in 2005, the coverage in the area has increased significantly (

Value chain opportunities for women and young people in livestock production in Ethiopia: Lessons learned

Both young people and women contribute significantly to agricultural production in the African continent, although these contributions are not usually explicitly recognized in official statistics and documents. In Ethiopia, women traditionally have been subject to sociocultural and economic discrimination that resulted in fewer economic, educational and social opportunities than men. The traditional development approaches that view the household as a unitary decision-making entity and the assumption that interventions targeted at the household head would trickle down to household members is the foundation of the exclusion of women and young people. In particular, women in married households are usually excluded from development interventions. Many governments in Africa have now started to take policy measures to recognize and enhance the contributions of young people and women in economic growth on the continent. Similarly, there seems to be strong political commitment in Ethiopia to ensure inclusive economic growth that will result in better gender equality and benefit young people. This working paper summarizes the lessons from the experiences of the Improving productivity and market success for Ethiopian smallholders and Livestock and irrigation value chains for Ethiopian smallholders projects in inclusive value chain development aimed at benefiting women and young people. It mainly focuses on the trajectories of the two projects in reaching out to women and young people in order to increase their access to resources, innovation, technologies and knowledge which could consequently improve their inclusion in and benefits from value chain development and governance. Experiences from innovative extension methods for inclusion are discussed. The paper makes recommendations for policy and development practice to improve benefits to women and young people from development interventions

Optimierung von Saatgutbehandlungsmitteln mit Wirkung gegen Flugbrand an Gerste und Weizen (Ustilago nuda, U. tritici) unter Nutzung verbesserter Verfahren zum Nachweis der Erreger

Ziel des Projektes war die Entwicklung von Saatgutbehandlungsmitteln zur Flugbrandbekämpfung im Ökolandbau und von Techniken die geeignet sind, die Entwicklung solcher Saatgutbehandlungsmittel zu beschleunigen. In Inokulationsversuchen konnte im Feldversuch durch Ausstäuben von Sporen Saatgut mit 2-5% Flugbrandbefall erzeugt werden. Nach Einzelblüteninokulation lag der Befall oft über 60%. Anders als bei Weizen waren bei Gerste die Keimfähigkeit und das Tausendkorngewicht von solchem Saatgut deutlich reduziert. Von ca. 30 geprüften Pflanzenextrakten führten neun nach Inkorporation in PDA zu einer vollständigen Hemmung der Brandsporenkeimung. In Hemmtesten mit Mikroorganismen betrug der Anteil wirksamer Isolate bei den Trichoderma-Isolaten 43%, bei den Actinomyceten 30% und bei den übrigen Bakterien 11%. In mehrjährig durchgeführten Kleinparzellenversuchen mit flugbrandinfizierter Gerste und Weizen wurden mit einigen Behandlungsvarianten Bekämpfungserfolge erzielt. Die Effekte waren aber zu gering für die praktische Anwendung und nur bedingt reproduzierbar. Topfversuche im Gewächshaus mit hochinfizierten Saatgutchargen erbrachten ähnliche Ergebnisse. Die Wirksamkeit gegen Haferflugbrand wurde nur einmal überprüft. Wie im Falle von Gersten- und Weizenflugbrand war der Bekämpfungserfolg auch beim Haferflugbrand unbefriedigend. Eine Ausnahme bildete die Saatgutbehandlung mit Ethanol (70%). Mit ihr wurde bei Hafer eine Flugbrandwirksamkeit von ca. 80% erzielt. Nach Anfärbung mit dem Fluoreszenzfarbstoff Blankophor wurde beobachtet, dass der Pilz schon wenige Tage nach Beginn der Keimung in das Apikalmeristem und die Blattprimordien eindrang. Im 1-Knotenstadium waren die Ährenanlagen meist völlig besiedelt. Ein Protokoll für einen immunologischen (ELISA) und für einen molekularbiologischen (real-time PCR) Nachweis wurde entwickelt und zur Quantifizierung des Pilzes in Jungpflanzen angewendet. Die mit beiden Methoden erhaltenen Daten stimmten gut überein. In weiteren Versuchen konnte die Anwendbarkeit des mikroskopischen Nachweises und des ELISA für die Entwicklung von Saatgutbehandlungsmitteln und –verfahren exemplarisch gezeigt werden

The potential and limitations of grasslands for livestock production in west Shoa zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia

Playwright: Meredith Wilson and Franklin Lacey Director: Harold C. Crain Musical Direction: Edwin C. Dunning Costumes: Berneice Prisk Lighting: Steven Maze Academic Year: 1966-1967https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/productions_1960s/1006/thumbnail.jp

The potential and limitations of grasslands for livestock production in west Shoa zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia

Global Affairs Canad

Effects of interpregnancy interval on pregnancy complications: protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Interpregnancy interval (IPI) is the length of time between a birth and conception of the next pregnancy. Evidence suggests that both short and long IPIs are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Relatively less attention has been directed towards investigating the effect of IPI on pregnancy complications, and the studies that have been conducted have shown mixed results. This systematic review will aim to provide an update to the most recent available evidence on the effect of IPI on pregnancy complications. Method and Analysis: We will search electronic databases such as Ovid/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed to identify peer-reviewed articles on the effects of IPI on pregnancy complications. We will include articles published from start of indexing until 12 February 2018 without any restriction to geographic setting. We will limit the search to literature published in English language and human subjects. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts and select full-text articles that meet the eligibility criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa tool will be used to assess quality of observational studies. Where data permit, meta-analyses will be performed for individual pregnancy complications. A subgroup analyses by country categories (high-income vs low and middle-income countries) based on World Bank income group will be performed. Where meta-analysis is not possible, we will provide a description of data without further attempt to quantitatively pool results. Ethics and Dissemination: Formal ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. Prospero Registration Number: CRD42018088578

Analysis of the Ethio-Sudan cross-border cattle trade: the case of Amhara Regional State

This study focuses on the Ethio-Sudan cross-border cattle trade along the border between Sudan and the Amhara Region. It was initiated by the Integrated Livestock Development Project (ILDP) which operates in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Regional State. Legal and illegal livestock marketing systems are examined where small farmer exporters and traders are the major actors in the illegal cattle marketing system while medium- to large-scale licensed exporters are dominantly operating in the legal system. Some of the topics discussed are - volume of export; characterization of the system, factors contributing to the marketing system, pricing mechanism; tariff rate; marketing fee; and health certification