Experimental Study on Cost Benefit Analysis of Lemon Verbena (Lominat) Cultivation for Herbal Production: The Case of Wondo Genet District, Southern Ethiopia

Even though, herbs had been valued for their medicinal, flavoring and aromatic qualities for centuries, the synthetic products of the modern age surpassed their importance, for some time. Never the less, the blind dependence on synthetics is now over and people are turning their face to the naturals with hope of safety and security. In Ethiopia however, other than the traditional aspect, the scientific aspect of Lemon Verbena is not well known and documented, as a result nothing is known about the cost, benefit and profitability of Lemon verbena cultivation for herbal production. Therefore Wondo genet agricultural research center has undertaken cost and benefit analysis for aloysia triphylla at wondo genet experimental site. The selected herb was planted based on the recommended spacing at wondo genet experimental site and the required data was collected. For the analysis net return to land (dollar/ha) was used as a parameter. The analysis shows that the selected herbal plant provides the net return, net present value (NPV) and Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 12828.5$/ha, 10043.6 and 0.2 at fresh bio mass price of   0.4$/kg respectively. Keywords: Aloysia Triphyla, Benefit, BCR, Cost  and NP

Profitability Analysis of Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon winterianus) Cultivation for Herbal Production: The Case of Wondo Genet District, Southern Ethiopia

Aromatic plants are plants that possess aromatic compounds, most of which are essential oils which are volatile at room temperature. They can be used as raw materials for extraction of essential oils which, in turn, are used in the flavor and fragrance industries, as well as the sources of spices, herbs, and other natural products such as traditional medicines, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, botanical pesticides, insect repellents, herbal teas/drinks, etc. Aiming to this, Wondo genet agricultural research center (one of the centers of Ethiopian institute of agricultural research)is responsible in doing research, promoting and coordinating aromatic, medicinal and bio energy plants at national level including other research activities on soil and water, livestock, forestry, and other food crops. In Ethiopia; other than the traditional aspect, the scientific aspect of aromatic and medicinal plants is not well known and little has been done on their economic contribution to households. Therefore Wondo genet agricultural research center has been done cost-benefit analysis for a selected aromatic grass namely Cymbopogon winterianus at wondo genet experimental site. The selected plant was planted based on its recommended spacing at wondo genet experimental site and the required data was collected. For the analysis net return to land (birr/ha) was used as a parameter. The analysis shows that, the selected aromatic grass provides the net return of which is 80417.32 birr/ha at fresh bio mass price of 1 birr. The NPV and BCR for Nardos grass was found to be: 76,858.5 and   2.3 respectively. Keywords: BCR, Benefit, Citronella grass/ Cymbopogon winterianus, Cost and NPV DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/10-8-05 Publication date: April 30th 2020

Maize Varietal Adoption Rate in Ethiopia, the Farmer Self Identification and DNA Finger Printing Approaches

The study examined the rate of maize adoption using farmer self identification and DNA fingerprinting in Ethiopia. Secondary data from the household survey data collected by Central Statistical Agency and DNA fingerprinting identified for maize varieties were used in the analysis. The findings of the study indicate that rate of maize adoption estimates from the DNA fingerprinting technology is different from farmer perceptions.  As  indicated,  according to  the household survey  43.75% of the farmers used  improved  maize  varieties  during  the  study  main cropping  season,  whereas,  based  on  DNA fingerprinting  analysis  97.16%  of  the  respondents  used  improved  maize  varieties and the difference was statistically significant at (p<0.01) realizing the importance of DNA fingerprinting technique over farmer self identification. Keywords: DNA Fingerprinting, Maize adoption rate, Hybrid maize and OPvs DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-2-0

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Cymbopogon Martini (WG-TEJ SAR) Cultivation for Herbal Production the Case of Wondo Genet District, Southern Ethiopia

As part of the struggle for improving the lively hood of the rural people, Ethiopia has made some efforts to promote the use of improved agricultural technologies to make land and labor more productive. To make this effort successful agricultural research has been developing technologies that can change the situation of farmers.  Aiming to this, Wondo genet agricultural research center (one of the centers of Ethiopian institute of agricultural research)is responsible in doing research, promoting and coordinating aromatic, medicinal and bio energy plants at national level including other research activities on soil and water, livestock, forestry, and other food crops.  In Ethiopia; other than the traditional aspect, the scientific aspect of aromatic and medicinal plants is not well known and little has been done on their economic contribution to households. Therefore Wondo genet agricultural research center has done cost-benefit analysis for a selected aromatic grass namely cymbopogon martini at wondo genet experimental site. The selected plant was planted based on its recommended spacing at wondo genet experimental site and the required data was collected. For the analysis net return to land (birr/ha) was used as a parameter. The analysis shows that the selected aromatic grass Cymbopogon martini(palmarosa grass)provide the net return, Net Present Value(NPV) and Benefit-Cost Ratio(BCR) of 151,005.8 birr/ha , 127,804.3 and 3.8 at fresh bio mass price of 3 birr respectively. Keywords: Benefit, BCR, Cost, NPV and Palmarosa grass DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-17-07 Publication date:September 30th 201