Anti-bacterial activity of Plumbago zeylanica L. roots on some pneumonia causing pathogens

The anti bacterial activity of polar and non-polar extracts prepared from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica L. (Plumbaginaceae), a plant widely used in Ethiopian traditional medicine for various ailments were investigated using hole plate diffusion method against some pneumonia causing pathogens. The aqueous extract did not exhibit any activity while petroleum ether extract was found to have strong anti-bacterial effects as compared to the ethanol extract which showed a significant activity. Activity guided chromatographic purification of the petroleum ether extract led to the isolation of three compounds, of which the compound identified as 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone, plumbagin, found to be the active component on the tested microorganisms. Minimum inhibitory concentration value of this particular compound showed comparative activity resembling the commonly used broad spectrum antibiotic, tetracycline. The strong antibacterial effect of the petroleum ether extract is discussed to show that it was attributable to this compound rather than the other two that were found to have trace of activities. Key words/phrases: Anti-bacterial activity, Minimum inhibitory concentration, Plumbago zeylanica, pneumonia SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol.25(2) 2002: 285-29

Farming practices and breeding objectives identification of farmer in north shoa and south wello zones of Amhara region

The study aims at assessing the production systems and identifying the traits preferred by farmers in the study areas to establish community-based breeding and sustainable utilization programs. The study was conducted in the four purposively selected districts of North Shoa and South Wello zones of Amhara region (Merehabete, Wereillu, Moretena Jiru and Mojaena Wedera). A total of 120(30 farmers from each district) purposively selected farmers participated in their own flock ranking experiment. Furthermore, 216 (i.e., 54 farmers from each district) were interviewed about their goat production systems and trait preferences to be improved. The chi-square test was used to analyze qualitative data, and analysis of variance was used to analyze quantitative data generated by the survey. For the rank data, indexes were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2010. Income was the main objective of goat rearing in all the study areas. Doe has a larger proportion than other flock structures in all the study areas. Mostly, the age of castration was above one year in all the study areas. The breeding buck selection criteria were growth, shape, size, and color. Body size, litter size, and mothering ability were identified as important traits in all study areas. Early selling of fast-buck kids is practiced in all study areas for their immediate cash. This results in the use of poor-performing bucks for breeding and may result in negative selection. To address such issues, it is critical to create and implement a community-based breeding program that takes into account body size, litter size, mothering capacity, puberty age, and longevity

Genetic parameters and trends of growth traits in community-based breeding programs of Abera sheep in Ethiopia

The objectives of the current study were to estimate the genetic parameters and genetic trends for growth traits, and to assess inbreeding levels of Abera sheep under community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) in Ethiopia. General linear model consisting of the fixed effects of sex, breeder cooperative, season and birth type was used to analyze growth traits. Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated within each breeder cooperative following univariate animal model based on the restricted maximum likelihood method. All fixed effects influenced (P < 0.05) the growth traits. Multivariate analysis was also employed to compute correlation estimates among growth traits. Based on the best fitted models, the direct heritability for weaning weight (WWT) and six-month weight (SMWT) in the six breeder cooperatives were in the ranges of 0.12 ± 0.12–0.38 ± 0.17 and 0.20 ± 0.10–0.49 ± 0.01, respectively. Range of positive genetic progress in WWT (0.15–0.44 kg) and SMWT (0.21–0.57 kg) was achieved in Abera sheep breeder cooperatives during selection years

Research for development approaches in mixed crop-livestock systems of the Ethiopian highlands

This study presents processes and success stories that emerged from Africa RISING’s Research for Development project in the Ethiopian Highlands. The project has tested a combination of participatory tools at multiple levels, with systems thinking and concern for sustainable and diversified livelihoods. Bottom-up approaches guided the selection of technological interventions that could address the priority farming system challenges of the communities, leading to higher uptake levels and increased impact. Joint learning, appropriate technology selection, and the creation of an enabling environment such as the formation of farmer research groups, the establishment of innovation platforms, and capacity development for institutional and technical innovations were key to this study. The study concludes by identifying key lessons that focus more on matching innovations to community needs and geographies, systems orientation/integration of innovations, stepwise approaches to enhance the adoption of innovations, documenting farmers’ capacity to modify innovations, building successful partnerships, and facilitating wider scaling of innovations for future implementation of agricultural research for development projects