Synergy between Traditional and Introduced Sustainable Land Management Practices in Ethiopia

The current development effort of Ethiopian government emphasizes on market-oriented commodity production through specialization and diversification of enterprises that are complementary to specialized commodities This household based package formulation is natural resources conservation based approach Farmers of Hararge have rich and ecologically sound traditional land husbandry practices knowledge base Traditional tie-ridging is practiced for in-situ moisture conservation and intensification of cropping systems at plot level RW is contained in the farm plot There are some similar experiences in Tigray but should be further exploited to expand and introduce cash crop agroforestry in the rugged and undulating areas of Tigray There was also good integration of biological and physical SWC techniques Enterprises should be diversified integrated and market-oriented to improve the livelihood of farmers Important knowledge gained from Hararge to fill gaps in Tigray other drylands of Ethiopia comprises water harvesting in-situ moisture water harvesting through tie-ridges irrigation crop diversification and intensification zero grazing and integrated intensive watershed management approach further integration of current joint SLM development efforts network of professionals working on different aspects of water management and utilization and strong policy research advisory support should gain top priority to empower and complement current grass-root community efforts and synergize and integrate with new adapted technologies for sustainable use and development of the natural resource base and accelerate agricultural development and transformatio

Synergy between Traditional and Introduced Sustainable Land Management Practices in Ethiopia

The current development effort of Ethiopian government emphasizes on market-oriented commodity production through specialization and diversification of enterprises that are complementary to specialized commodities This household based package formulation is natural resources conservation based approach Farmers of Hararge have rich and ecologically sound traditional land husbandry practices knowledge base Traditional tie-ridging is practiced for in-situ moisture conservation and intensification of cropping systems at plot level RW is contained in the farm plot There are some similar experiences in Tigray but should be further exploited to expand and introduce cash crop agroforestry in the rugged and undulating areas of Tigray There was also good integration of biological and physical SWC techniques Enterprises should be diversified integrated and market-oriented to improve the livelihood of farmers Important knowledge gained from Hararge to fill gaps in Tigray other drylands of Ethiopia comprises water harvesting in-situ moisture water harvesting through tie-ridges irrigation crop diversification and intensification zero grazing and integrated intensive watershed management approach further integration of current joint SLM development efforts network of professionals working on different aspects of water management and utilization and strong policy research advisory support should gain top priority to empower and complement current grass-root community efforts and synergize and integrate with new adapted technologies for sustainable use and development of the natural resource base and accelerate agricultural development and transformatio

Determinants of individual dietary diversity score of children less than five years old in the southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Dietary diversity is a measure of food consumption that reflects household access to a variety of foods and is also a proxy for  nutrient adequacy of the diet of  individuals. Dietary diversity is useful because it is correlated with nutrient intake as well as  various anthropometric measures in children. This study was carried out to assess the status of individual dietary diversity score (IDDS) of children under five years old (6-59 months) and its determinants in the Southern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. A survey of 320 households having children 6-59 months old was  conducted using a cross-sectional descriptive study with both qualitative and quantitative study designs following the FAO guidelines for the dietary diversity and a semi-structured questionnaire for  demographic and socio-economic factors. Data for the individual dietary diversity (IDDS) indicator were collected by asking the respondent (mother or caregiver) to recall the foods provided during the previous 24 hour period. Data analysis was conducted by using STATA 12 software. The mean IDDS in the study areas was found to be below four, which is the acceptable minimum level.  The traditional diet of children was cereal dominated and low in micronutrient rich food groups in all the assessed Kebeles1. Being a model2 farmer, household’s farmland endowment, female headship of the household, and experience in special meals preparation and participation in nutrition related training of household members were positively associated with dietary diversity of children in the study areas.In order to overcome the low IDDS of children in the areas and to improve their nutritional status through   consumption of diverse foods, it is important to make agricultural production more nutrition sensitive especially on diversification of nutrient dense agricultural products.Key words: Agriculture-Nutrition linkage, dietary diversity, food group, micronutrients, 24-hour recal

Business Strategy and HRM Aligning On Organizational Performance. Evidence from Public Service Organizations of Dire Dawa Administration

The purpose of this paper is to assess the practice of aligning HRM practices to business strategy and its impact on organizational performance in the context of Dire Dawa administration. Data were collected from 102 organizations using a questionnaire survey in the administration’s of public sector organizations, and analyzed using the ‘descriptive statistics and correlation and regression’ methods. Analysis of the result revealed that the region has an overall strategic plan derived from the national growth and development plan. There is also strategic HR plan. But the practice of deriving the HR plan from the goals and objectives of the administration’s strategic plan is not customary. HRM practices (employee selection, compensation, performance appraisal and training and development practices) and organizational performance is causally correlated and it is influenced by the alignment of HR practices. Thus, the contribution of this study for academics and practitioners is that HRM practices associated with business strategies will affect organizational performance as measured by balanced score card elements i.e. customer satisfaction, improved financial management system, internal growth and learning and development. Keywords: Balanced scored card, Human resource management, strategy, alignment, performance. DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/62-04 Publication date: January 31st 202

Health and Welfare Assessment of Working Donkeys in and around Axum Districts, Tigray Regional State Northern Ethiopia

Across-sectional study was conducted from October 2011to April 2011 with the objective of assessing the health and welfare status of working donkeys in and around Axum. A total of 384 donkeys were subjected to direct animal based assessment. Out of the total 384 donkeys, 56(14.59%) of the donkeys had poor body condition score that showed a statistically significant different (p<0.05) and 34.9% of them demonstrated abnormal demeanor. Additionally, 7.81% of the examined donkeys had varying degrees of lameness which was significantly associated (p <0.05) with the presences of wound on the leg of animals. 29.69% of the examined animals  were with either healed or active wounds dominated by back sore, older and thin donkeys were prone to develop back sore (p<0.05). Moreover, other skin problems (3.125%), abnormal mucous membrane (3.12%), ophthalmic problems (3.90%), parasitic disease (2.1%) were also encountered. Out of the 384 animals, 80(20.8%) donkeys had varying degrees of dehydration. Indirect assessment about the welfare problem of donkeys demonstrated that poor attitude to donkeys (24.16%), limitation of access to health care (21.6%) and lack of vaccination compared to other animals (11%), among others. As a remedy, the community suggested awareness creation for the owners, provision of feed and water, improvement of access to veterinary care equivalent to other animals. It is, therefore, recommended that public awareness toward the value. Management and health care provision for working donkeys should be enhanced in the study area. Keywords:  Donkey welfare, Axum 

Biomass and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Oxytenanthera abyssinica in the Homestead Agroforestry System of Tigray, Ethiopia

Oxytenanthera abyssinica forms an important constituent in the homestead agroforestry system of Tselemti district of Northern Ethiopia. Biomass and carbon sequestration potential of O. abyssinica in the land managed by farmers was studied from November to January 2013/14 in Serako kebele. Samples of six culms per age classes in three replications, 18 culms in total were harvested for biomass analysis. Allometric equations were then developed relating to leaf, branch and culm biomass with breast height diameter (DBH) and Age as independent variables. To evaluate the effect of Age and DBH on total biomass of O. abyssinica, 9 different treatments with three replications were used. In total, 27 culms were randomly selected for biomass and carbon stock determination based on the developed allometric equation. Samples were then collected from three levels of age, i.e. less than one year, one to three years and greater than three years at three DBH levels of 2.55 – 3.18 cm, 3.19 – 3.82 cm and 3.83 – 4.46 cm. Carbon fraction of O. abyssinica was determined using destructive ashing method by taking sample specimens both from the above ground and below ground biomass. Carbon stock was significantly higher in one to three and greater than three years than less than one year culm age (P<0.001). Older culms were capable to sequester more carbon than younger culms with 3.8, 3.9 and 3.5 kg culm-1for the three age classes respectively. O. abyssinica has a significant effect on climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. Key - words: allometric equation, carbon sequestration, Oxytenanthera abyssinic

Community natural resource management: the case of woodlots in northern Ethiopia

This paper examines the nature of community management of woodlots and investigates the determinants of collective action and its effectiveness in managing woodlots, based on a survey of 100 villages in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. We find that collective management of woodlots generally functions well in Tigray. Despite limited current benefits received by community members, the woodlots contribute substantially to community wealth, increasing members' willingness to provide collective effort to manage the woodlots. We find that benefits are greater and problems less on woodlots managed at the village level than those managed at a higher municipality level, and that the average intensity of management is greater on village-managed woodlots. Nevertheless, we find little evidence of differences in collective management of woodlots or its effectiveness on village vs. municipality-managed woodlots, after controlling for other factors. The factors that do significantly affect collective action include population density (higher collective labor input and lower planting density at intermediate than at low or high density), market access (less labor input, planting density and tree survival where market access is better), and presence of external organizations promoting the woodlot (reduces local effort to protect the woodlot and tree survival). The negative effect of market access suggests that higher opportunity costs of labor and/or increased “exit options” undermine collective resource management. The findings suggest collective action may be more beneficial and more effective when managed at a more local level, when the role of external organizations is more demand-driven, and when promoted in intermediate population density communities more remote from markets. In higher population density settings and areas closer to markets, private-oriented approaches are likely to be more effective.resource management, Forest management, Population density, Collective behavior, Ethiopia,

Consequences of Financial Management Practices on Profitability on Selected Private Manufacturing Companies in Mekelle City

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationships of the existing practices with the profitability of the companies. Data were collected from secondary sources and primary sources. An Econometric tool, i.e., Order probit regression technique was applied to assist the researcher verifying the relationship between the practices and the profitability of the companies. Moreover, the study has analyzed the consequences of existing financial management practices on profitability and found that there was direct relationship between profitability and financial reporting and analysis; and the accounting information system. On the other hand, profitability was inversely related with age of the company, capital budgeting and capital structure management practices. The companies should exercise to maintain suitable ratio between debt and total capital; use effective financial leverage and should review the debt level in order to use it for making finance decisions. Moreover, the companies should evaluate their future projects and fixed assets after acquisition using different capital budgeting techniques rather than a simple determination of accounting profit. The variables used in the study were not exhaustive. Thus, future research may incorporate other financial management practices such as budgeting and CVP analysis and the potential researchers may also assess the practices in different sectors. Keywords: Accounting Information System, Capital Budgeting, Capital Structure, Financial Management Practices, Financial Management, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Profitability, Working Capita

Determinants of Growth of Private Investment in Dire Dawa City, Ethiopia

Private investment is one of the mainsprings of economic growth. Dire Dawa city has been identified as the low private investment activities in the development and growth of the economy. Thus, the objective of this study is to explain the determinants of private investment in the city. In an attempt to achieve this objective, data was collected through self-administered questionnaire from 171 sample respondents through a systematic sampling technique and analyzed through inferential analysis. Seventeen variables were considered for analysis and the result reveals nine variables, that is, education, marital status, age, personal saving, inflation, public investment, investment incentive, raw materials and land are a statistically significant determinant of private investment of Dire Dawa city. Therefore, if the city has to benefit from the economic rewards of the private investment, it is recommended for all stakeholders to pay more attention to those determinants. Keywords: Administrative factors, factors of production, financial factors, personal factors, private investment. DOI: 10.7176/JPID/58-01 Publication date: January 31st 202

The Impact of Employee Empowerment on Job Satisfaction of Commercial Banks of Ethiopia, Dire Dawa Branch

Different authors argue that empowering employee using different facets of empowerments like information sharing, trust, reward, training and autonomy have an impact on job satisfaction and service quality where as other authors disagree with this idea .thus this study with the title of “The Impact of Employee Empowerment on Job Satisfaction of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Dire Dawa Branch” has an objective of testing whether the facets of empowerment have a relation with overall job satisfaction. Questionnaires were distributed to the entire population of the bank. From the distributed questionnaires 71% were collected back and used for interpretation. To analyze the data inferential statistics like Pearson correlation and multiple regressions were employed.The researcher found that all facets of employee empowerment have contributed to employee job satisfaction. Particularly training and reward have a significant contribution to job satisfaction.The researcher recommend the bank to develop short term and long term training program as well as develop a reward system that motivate its employees so as to increase their employee’s job satisfaction and to provide quality service to its customers and become competent in the market. Keywords: Employee empowerment, job satisfaction, service quality, commercial bank