Agricultural mechanization in Ethiopian: Experience, status and prospects

Agricultural Mechanization deals with the use of any mechanical aid in agricultural production. These mechanical aids could be simple hand tools, animal drawn implements or sophisticated mechanically powered agricultural machines. The source of energy ranges from humans, animals to engine or electrical power. Generally these are categorized as hand tool,, animal and mechanically powered technology. The productivity of each level depends on the power source. Humans being inefficient one can hardly cultivate a hectare of land per season, where as animal powered technology is of no use beyond three hectares where as mechanical powered technology is good enough to cultivate a minimum of 40 hectares even in sub moist zones where the window of operation time does not exceed 15 days. The three levels of mechanization have existed in this country for many years now. During Imperial Ethiopia, there were big farms operating as share companies, where mechanically powered technologies were used in areas like Dubti, which were highly productive and produced competitive product in the then world market. During the time of the Derg and now most of the big farms are not producing to the level of the national average. Today you hear in the news that entrepreneurs have cleared the land, but not have started production yet. The mode of land clearing was not systematic and did not take precaution in terms environmental and social safe guards. It is not only the level of mechanization, but the discipline commitment in the mode of production that guarantees the sustainable production and productivity of the land to meet today’s need and the requirement of tomorrow’s generation. Land is a limited resource, besides the competition for land from the other economic sectors is paramount, despite the increasing population and the number of mouths to feed. Under these circumstances it is only a knowledge based agricultural mechanization system, where precision and efficiency are the pillars that will operate under this paradox of feeding increasing population in a situation of dwindling resource base

Effect of Social Networks on Food Security Status: The Case of Maize Producing Farmers in Ethiopia

Social networks are said to play crucial role in improving livelihoods. Farming communities in Ethiopia have strong social networks which provided them a means to exchange information, resources and serve them as a mechanism for ensuring social safety-net. This study was conducted with an objective of investigating whether social network have role in improving food security status of farm households. The study used data collected from 830 households in major maize growing regions of Ethiopia; namely, Oromia, SNNP and Benishangul Gumuz. Six variables that explain social network were included in a multinomial logit model to influence their effect on status of food security. Households were categorized in four food security status category (Food shortage throughout the year, Occasional food shortage, No food shortage but no surplus-self-sufficient and Food surplus). The model estimate indicated two social network variables: No of relatives living within village HH depend on for information and support & No of non-relatives living within village HH depend on for information and support, were found significantly influencing food security indicating that food security play role in improving food security in Ethiopia

Causes, Consequences and Policy implications of Squatter Settlement in Gondar Town in the Case of Kebele 18

Abstract                           Objective: the principal objective of the study is to assess the causes and consequences of squatter settlements in the light of unplanned expansion of the built-up area and policy responses to it.Methods: in order to achieve the study objective, in-depth interview with 20 household heads and municipal administrators' documentary analysis and observational techniques were used. Results: major findings of the study indicate that emergence of squatter settlements in the study area is a recent phenomenon that has occurred since 2005. High building standards of the legal houses, delayed responses, and procedural problems of the legal land provision, and high housing rents in the city centre were identified by respondents as the causes of squatting in the study area. In addition, less government control of open spaces, the limited capacity of the code enforcement service to control illegal house construction, lack of a comprehensive legal response towards the problem of squatting, and the practice of land sale by land speculators as a means of making profit are other factors that have contributed to the emergence and proliferation of squatter settlements. Compared to the plot sizes of the legal land provision, the plot sizes of the squatter settlements in the study area are large and there are undeveloped vacant fenced plots between squatter housing units. Thus, land in the area is inefficiently exploited and the situation has greatly contributed to the unplanned and rapid horizontal expansion of the built-up area of the town. Keywords: Squatter settlement, policy implications and illegal hous

The Effect of Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction: A Case Study on Selected Private Banks in Bahir Dar; Ethiopia

The purpose of this study is to measure the service quality and its subsequent effect on customer satisfaction at Private Bank using a model that describes various dimensions of service quality. To this purpose the researcher has studied the service quality of private banks using SERVQUAL model. Convenience sampling technique was used in the study to take a sample from the infinite population. A total sample of 350 respondents who have Banking service were taken as a respondent. The relevant data was gathered using questionnaire which was designed based on the model to examine all the five factors of service quality in the model for bank industry. It was found that clients of are not satisfied with  assurance, reliability and empathy and they are satisfied with tangibles and responsiveness. It  was recommended that managers should train their  employees so as to improve visually attractive facilities and coordinate all people, departments and organizations involved with the services. Finally, managers at should measure clients’ satisfaction and service quality seasonally to keep the services corresponded with customers’ opinions. Keywords: Service quality, Service quality dimension/Tangibility, Assurance, Reliability, Empathy, Responsiveness and Customer satisfactio

The Role of Marketing Strategy for Sales Volume: A Case Study on Ethiopian Textile Firms, Ethiopia

In this article  the relationship between marketing strategy and sales volume was examined using four marketing dimensions; product, price, promotion and place. It was hypothesized that all marketing dimension are positively related with sales volume. Descriptive or survey research design was used to describe the association between marketing strategy and sales volume. The enquired data was gathered from respondents through survey questionnaire and it was analyzed via linear regression analysis method using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. The findings revealed that there is a good/positive association between all marketing strategy elements/marketing dimensions and sales volume. Keywords: Sales Volume, Marketing strategy, Marketing mix/Marketing dimension

SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION AND CHALLENGES OF ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY NON-ADHERENCE AMONG INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN GONDAR TOWN HEALTH CENTER, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Introduction: The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is affecting individual, and community lives at different levels. To encounter such challenge HIV-positive, individuals are taking ART drugs, but they often faced different challenge for taking the drug. Objective: The main objective of this study is to investigate the major socio-economic situations challenges of ART non-adherence among HIV/AIDS positives in Gondar town health center. Methods: To do so, I have conducted a cross-sectional study with mixed-method research that is both quantitative and qualitative methods. More specifically, I have employed questionnaires, focus group discussion and in-depth interview to collect the actual data from respondents. Results: Based on the information gathered from respondents’ majority of them are females (78%) whose age lies between 39 and 49, and socioeconomically, their major occupation is daily laborer and unemployed. As to the major challenges of taking ART drug personal, socio-economic situation that is being poor, lack of food, family-level factors, shortage of professional counseling services, and others are responsible. Conclusion: ART non-adherence is associated with the socio-economic condition of patients’ personal, family, and community-level challenges

Modifying the traditional plough - maresha - for better management of Vertisols

This chapter provides a brief description of relevant farmers' practices, the traditional implements used and the experience of the Joint Vertisols Project (1986-91) in developing simple and low-cost implements for Vertisols in a highland agricultural system

Magnitude of unintended pregnancy and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Durame Maternal and Child Health Center, Southern Ethiopia

Unintended pregnancy is the major sexual and reproductive health problem which carries a higher risk of morbidity and mortality for women, often due to unsafe abortion. Even though family planning services are effective and available than ever before, unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion are the major public health problems in the study area. Therefore, this study aims to assess the magnitude of unintended pregnancy and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Durame Maternal and Child Health center, Southern Ethiopia. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 385 participants. The results revealed that among the total participants, 26.8% with 95% CI (0.229-0.307) had unintended pregnancies.Mothers who were not knowledgeable about family planning methods (AOR=2.541, 95% CI=1.953, 6.101), family size of six or more (AOR=2.8, 95% CI=1.19, 6.60), a history of greater than six pregnancies (AOR=7.323, 95% CI=3.987, 10.056), and mothers who had a history of 3-4 pregnancies (AOR=3.210, 95% CI=1.678, 4.721) were among significantly associated factors with an unintended pregnancy. The magnitude of unintended pregnancy in Durame town was optimal compared to other studies. The number of pregnancies, knowledge about family planning methods, and family size were among the significantly associated factors with an unintended pregnancy. Therefore, special attention could be taken to these high-risk groups in terms of increasing accessibility and availability of maternal health services and counselling. By doing this, the chance of unintended pregnancy could be reduced

TURKISH AND ETHIOPIAN TEACHERS’ VIEWS ABOUT STUDENTS’ UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOURS IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE TECHNIQUES THEY USE TO COPE UP WITH: A CASE STUDY

The overall purpose of this study was to identify teachers’ views about types and causes of students’ undesirable behaviours and the techniques they use to cope up with. This study is qualitative in nature, and in the pattern of a holistic multiple case study. To identify the schools, the researchers used convenience sampling technique. The work group was determined using maximum variable sampling. As a result, the working group consisted of four participants from Turkish school and four from Ethiopian school. The data were collected be a semi-structured questionnaire interviewing the participants face to face. The data were analysed by the help of computer program called Nvivo using content analysis technique. The observed behaviours common to both schools were being late, cheating, not doing the given tasks, talking without permission during the lesson, hyperactivity and lack of attention, complaining about their teacher to family, not paying attention to personal hygiene and being rude. On the other hand, In Ethiopia, attaching nickname to friends, picking up and leaving the class in the middle of lesson, eating and drinking at the wrong time, insulting and not sitting properly; in Turkey producing a variety of excuses and complaints, silence, selfishness, naughtiness, swearing, lack of interest in cultural activities and theatre play, smoking cigarettes secretly were undesirable behaviours determined peculiar to each culture. A close, positive and supportive relationship between all school stakeholders is essential for developing a mutual relationship of respect and for managing undesirable behaviours successfully.  Article visualizations

THE OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND FACTORS INFLUENCING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AT AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY, TURKEY

The overall purpose of this study was to explore the opportunities and challenges international students faced in their daily life and factors influencing their academic performance at Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. In this study, a case study design in accordance with the qualitative research method was used. The purpose of the case study is to draw conclusions about a particular case. The working group of this study contained 15 international students. The researchers developed a semi-structured interview form and ensured its validity by giving two academicians who were experts on the topic and then the pilot study was conducted. Firstly, participants reported that international students have faced great opportunities such as meeting new people, new culture, a new language, new links and so forth. Secondly, the obtained results showed that international students have faced language barriers, culture shock, local people, and difficulty of adaption and so on. Third, they also mentioned language barriers, psychological problems, professor-related factors, students' laziness, family issues, financial limitation, poor access to resources, academic background, lack of good accommodation, culture shock, and the difference in the education system as factors influencing their academic performance. Finally, the participants suggested other international students to have Turkish friends, be psychologically ready, and be active to learn and adapt, to focus on language seriously, to manage their time effectively, to participate in campus clubs and activities, to go with plans and to work hard.  Article visualizations