Nature of Damage and Infestation of Dominant Foliage Herbivore of Soybean at Jimma-Iluababora, Ethiopia

Leaf herbivore insects are among the most serious pests of soybean in Ethiopia. A survey was conducted on 90 farms in three main soybean growing districts in Jimma and Iluababora zones of Ethiopia. The objectives were to assess the socio demographic information of the farmers, to identify farmers’ pest management practices and to study the importance and infestation of dominant leaf herbivore insect pests of soybean. The statistical analysis showed there is highly significant (p<0001) difference among studied districts in area coverage of soybean production and the majority of the farmers (81.1%) produce soybean below a hectare. Farmers were using different pest management methods to reduce damage caused by leaf phaga insect pests which concentrated on cultural method. Crop rotation was one of the main farming systems practiced by 80% at Tiroafeta and 96.7 and 100 % at Chewaka and Darimu districts. About 16.7% farmers of Tiroafeta were not practiced any management practices for pest management where as only 3.3 % of them practiced manually hand picking method at Chewaka. At Darimu district, all surveyed farmers did not get any access to crop protection training, but at Tiroafeta and Chewaka only 3.3 % of them got training opportunity provided by research center. The study revealed that the mean infestation level of green clover worm was 29.8 % at Tiroafeta district and 47 and 50.4 % at Chewaka and Darimu. The mean infestation of soybean semilooper was 25.3 % at Tiroafeta and 14.6 and 15.6 % at Chewaka and Darimu districts. The study showed that infestation of soybean leaf roller ranged from 2.5 to 8.2 % in Jimma zone and up to 74 % in Iluababora. Generally, these insect pests, needs due attention conducting regular scouting in unaddressed areas are very important for integrated pest management. Keywords: Green cloverworm, infestation, leaf roller, semi-looper, soybean DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-7-02 Publication date:July 31st 202

Linking Population, Fertility and Family Planning with Adaptation to Climate Change: Views from Ethiopia

As global climate change unfolds, its effects are being felt disproportionately in the world's poorest countries and among the groups of people least able to cope. Many of the countries hardest hit by the effects of climate change also face rapid population growth, with their populations on track to double by 2050.Population Action International (PAI) and Miz-Hasab Research Center (MHRC), in collaboration with the Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI), studied which groups are most vulnerable, what community members say they need to adapt, and the role of family planning and reproductive health in increasing resilience to climate change impacts.The study was carried out in 2008-2009 in peri-urban and rural areas of two regions in Ethiopia: the Oromia region and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's (SNNP) region

Preliminary Epidemiological Interpretation of the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Contributing to the Coverage and Participation Rates of the Vaccination Program in Arssi, Ethiopia

Many immunization programs in developing countries arr now undergoing a period of rapid utilization. Innovative strategies, such as immunization holidays, are being tried. Political commitment and enthusiasm are high. There is a strong desire by health professionals to protect the lives of many children from the untimely death and/or disability resulting from infectious diseases preventable by vaccination. Evaluation of an immunization program can benefit other elements of the health system, particularly those that are not amenable to objective evaluation as immunization. In this case, immunization can serve as an indicator of the overall performance of the health system. The problems revealed by evaluation of the immunization program could therefore be taken as problems generic to the health services as a whole. In remedying the problems for immunization, approaches that would improve the health services as a whole should be sought. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to coverage and participation rates of the vaccination program in Arssi, Ethiopia. vaccination program participation is relatively easy to estimate, although its importance should not be overemphasized as the primary goal of immunization programs is the reduction in mortality, morbidity, and disability resulting from infectious diseases preventable by vaccination. The survey questionnaire, adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO), was one of the instruments used for this project. Results of the evaluation in 1988 showed that only 66.5% of the children surveyed were fully vaccinated, while 26.9% were partially vaccinated, and 16.6% were not vaccinated at all. Comparisons of the survey results between the years 1983, 1985, and 1988 was made to determine whether or not there was improvement in vaccination coverage between the years. Decisions about the differences of the survey results in population proportions between the years were based on whether or not the differences were scientifically significant, leading us to the rejection of the null hypothesis of no difference (zero), and whether or not the results were scientifically important (whether or not the results showed an increase in vaccination coverage). An increase in usage rate was noticed more in 1988 than the previous survey results of 1985 and 1983. Mothers or guardians were asked about the possible reasons of immunization failures when their children or themselves were found partially or not-vaccinated. The reasons included such facts as lack of information, lack of motivation, obstacles/barriers, and wrong/improper vaccination techniques. Based on the literature review and the survey results, recommendations were made to help correct the observed problems and achieve a higher level of vaccination coverage

Factors Affecting Adoption and Profitability of Fertilizer Marketed Through Cooperatives in Enderta Woreda, Ethiopia

In spite of the high potential of agriculture, the country could not yet attain self-sufficiency in food production. Various development strategies have been undertaken to improve the performance of agriculture. Intensification of agriculture through the establishment of various projects and institutions has been emphasized over the last three decades. The results of a number of fertilizer use demonstrations and trails played a significant role in encouraging farmers to apply fertilizer. The farmers began to learn the value of fertilizer as the key input to increase production. However, fertilizer adoption rate leaves much to be desired, given the fast growing population and the rapidly declining fertility of the soil. This study attempted to address the factors associated with fertilizer adoption and profitability marketed through Enderta cooperative union. The study area is located in the south east zone of Tigray region. Livestock and crop husbandry are the dominant farming practices. Wheat, barley and teff are the major cereal crops grown in the district, in about 83% of the total cultivated area. Data were collected from 140 sample cooperative members and 64 non-members, using a pre- tested and structured interview schedule. Female headed households constituted 13.24% of the total sample. A bout 87.9% of cooperative members and 68.8% of the non-members adopt chemical fertilizer in 2006/7 crop season. To examine and quantify the factors of fertilizer marketed through cooperative the logit model was used. Value-Cost-Ratio (VCR) was used to estimate fertilizer profitability. The results of logit model showed that Credit, extension service, oxen ownership, age of the farmer, family size, MSC Thesis Year 2008 Prepared By Tsehaye Kidanu iv farmers level of education and availability of manure, are the most important factors of fertilizer adoption. The VCR indicated that teff growers in the study area obtained less profit from the use of fertilizer. Fertilizer price, location specific rate of fertilizer application, interest rate or cost of capital and development of rural feeder roads for timely delivery of inputs (fertilizer), improved extension services and education are areas where interventions are needed

Status of Citrus Canker in Ethiopia and Malaysia, and Characterization of the Causal Agent

Citrus canker disease surveys were conducted between August to November 2003 in Ethiopia and between January to April 2004 in West Malaysia. The pathogens were isolated and identified based on morphological characteristics and pathogenicity tests on seedlings of citrus cultivars using isolates collected from West Malaysia. Biochemical characterizations of the isolates were also carried out using standard determinative tests. In Ethiopia, citrus canker was observed only on sour orange (Citrus aurantium) and Mexican lime (C. aurantifolia). Disease incidence in the field on Mexican lime leaves in Ethiopia was 71.4% and severity was 26.8%; incidence on fruits was 30% and severity 21.25%. This is the first confirmed report of the disease in Ethiopia. In Malaysia, the disease was observed on Mexican lime (C. aurantifolia), pomelo (C. grandis) and kaffier lime (C. hysterix). Overall, the disease incidence in Malaysia was of 36.5% and severity of 12.5% on leaves, while incidence on fruits was 18.7% and severity 7.5%. Growth of X. axonopodis pv. citri in yeast dextrose chalk agar (YDCA) was not as fast as in peptone sucrose agar (PSA) or nutrient glucose agar (NGA). However, the former medium was very selective to Xanthomonas species. There were highly significant differences in lesion size for cultivars (P < 0.01) but not for isolates. Significant positive regression (P < 0.05) was observed between lesion size and time after inoculation. Repeated measure analysis using general linear model (GLM) for correlation between times after inoculation was highly significant (P < 0.01). No variation in pathogenicity was observed among the isolates. Population sizes increased by over 2 Log cfu/lesion on Mexican lime and nearly by 1.5 Log units on sour orange and pomelo and remained around the initial inoculum level on calamondin. Significant positive correlations were observed between X. axonopodis pv. citri population and lesion size on sour orange (r =0.57, P =0.024), pomelo (r =0.73, P =0.018) and Mexican lime (r = 0.76, P = 0.001). The correlation was relatively the highest for Mexican lime (r = 0.76) and lowest for calamondin (r=0.25). The interactions between isolates and cultivars were highly significant (P < 0.01). Tukey tests showed no significant differences in reaction to X. axonopodis pv. citri isolates between sour orange and pomelo, sour orange and sweet orange, Mexican lime and grapefruit, and also between calamondin and sweet orange. The six citrus test cultivars were all susceptible to the 15 X. axonopodis pv. citri isolates and citrus canker lesions were induced on the detached leaves. There was highly significant (P < 0.01) interaction between cultivars and all strains. Disease severity on detached leaves was significantly correlated (P < 0.01) with disease severity ratings in attached leaf test studies and was relatively the highest (r=0.97) for Mexican lime. In the biochemical characterization study, all 15 isolates of X. axonopodis pv. citri showed similar results using standard determinative tests. Field host ranges for citrus canker in Ethiopia were Mexican lime and sour orange, while in West Malaysia it appears to be wider than in Ethiopia. In conclusion, on the basis of their host range in seedling tests, morphological characteristics, pathogenicity tests, population growth in planta and biochemical characteristics, the 15 representative West Malaysian isolates of X. axonopodis pv. citri were characterized to be associated to the Asiatic type (“A” type) citrus canker. Sour orange, pomelo, Mexican lime, calamondin grapefruit and sweet orange were all susceptible to the 15 X. axonopodis pv. citri isolates

GIS-based spatial analysis coupled with geophysical imaging to identify and evaluate factors that control the formation of karst sinkholes in southwestern Missouri

Sinkholes are inherent features of the karst terrain underlying much of Greene County, Missouri. These features present hazards and engineering challenges to existing infrastructure unknowingly constructed on a seemingly benign ground surface. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the physical processes chiefly responsible for triggering the seemingly random distribution of sinkholes in the study area. This research employed an integrated approach encompassing regional scale GIS-based spatial analyses and site-specific geophysical data. GIS-based spatial analysis was employed to identify significant physical factors that appeared to influence the formation and distribution of sinkholes. Seven out of the twelve most cited factors influencing sinkhole development were identified in the study area. These factors were: overburden thickness, depth-to-groundwater, slope of the ground surface, distance to the nearest water course, distance to the nearest geologic structures, distance to nearest springs, and distance to the nearest roads. In the site-specific geophysical investigations, two dimensional (2D) and pseudo three dimensional (3D) - ERT, MASW, and borehole data were used to characterize the subsurface morphology of the karstified soil-bedrock interface in five selected sinkholes. From the interpretation of the 2D and pseudo 3D-ERT profiles, it was determined that four of the five sinkholes occurred at the intersections of regional systematic joint sets. The joint sets are characterized by a linear, visually prominent zones of low resistivity. The relatively low resistivity values are attributed to vertical seepage and the associated piping of fine-grained soils through preexisting fractures (often widened by solutioning) --Abstract, page iv

Assessment of Self-Employment Job Opportunities Using Public and Private Organizations as Potential for Factors of Production in Case of Dire Dawa City

The purpose of this study was to identify self-employment job opportunities in private and public organizations from the four factors of production viewpoints. Moreover, the study was intended to achieve the situation of job seekers (unemployed people) in Dire Dawa city, self-employment opportunities using the land, capital and enterprises in the premises of public organizations and private organizations are also analyzed. Registered unemployed people and 70 large scale organizations were investigated through questionnaire, template filling, focus group discussion and interview. Secondary data were also extracted from reports, magazines and bulletins of the organizations. 85 % of the registered unemployed are not graduated from higher educations. Public and private organizations provides source of land and capital in their premises. Government owned idle land was also another source of land. Job seekers are considered as labor and their coordination and partnership creates business enterprise. Finally, the study found that 15,855 job opportunities for job seekers in the study area. Keywords: Unemployment, job opportunity, factors of production, self employment DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-22-05 Publication date: August 31st 201

The Ethiopia-Eritrea Peace Talk and Normalization of Relations: Implication for Sub-Regional Security

This study attempts at shedding light on the security implication of the current Ethio-Eritrea new peace prospect and normalization of relations in the Horn of Africa. The study employed qualitative research approach. To realize the stated objective, the study largely focused at using secondary data sources, from which published and unpublished materials like books articles, reports, commentaries and agreements were reviewed and well consulted. To substantiate documented sources, the study used the analysis of experts and researchers presented on different media in the form of interview or focused discussion on the issue under investigation. The researcher herein argues that the ongoing diplomatic efforts to mend the decades of political impasse and hostility between Ethiopia and Eritrea can bring massive ramification in the process of ensuring peace in the Horn of Africa. In the first place, the recurring diplomatic rapprochement between the two foes can bring to an end the protracted acts of mutual destabilization and proxy war thereby address conflicts that have regional dimensions, as explained in terms of the intervention of Ethiopia on the side of transitional federal government t(TFG) of Somalia whereas Eritrea aligned with dissident groups fighting transitional federal government The other far reaching implication of the peace talk and normalization of Ethio-Eritrea relations is the opening of favorable grounds and platform for Eritrea-Somalia and Eritrea-Djibouti governments to reconcile antipathies and resume diplomatic ties. Equally important, prioritization of diplomatic discussion manifest the rethinking of how ineffective is the culture of militarism in the resolution of various irreconcilabilities, given the longstanding reliance of the two people on guns and violence.  Thereafter, the new peace prospect pursued by these countries also widen opportunities for strengthening formative regional cooperation and integrations schemes in security, energy, tourism, transports, road and trade. Keywords: Eritrea; Ethiopia; Horn of Africa; Normalization; Security. DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/63-01 Publication date: April 30th 202

Economic Interdependence as a Driving Force for Peace and Security Cooperation: Ethio-Djibouti Relations

Ethiopia and Djibouti established an amicable relations since very long time ago especially on economic areas Port and railway were the main connecting factors for the two states in exercising economic relations Nowadays however different new developments like electricity export infrastructural linkages and social as well as political relations are further intensifying the two countries relations At the top of that the prevailing strong economic interdependence spilled over to peace and security cooperation Accordingly they are jointly working on the peace and security of the two countries and the Horn of Africa at larg

Commercialization through Market Participation: Analysis of Factors Determining Butter Market Participation and Level of Supply, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Market participation is both a cause and a consequence of economic development. Markets offer households the opportunity to specialize according to comparative advantage and thereby enjoy welfare gains from trade. Empirical analysis of the determinants of smallholder market participation has to deal with the econometric hazard of selection bias. The problem arises because households (or individuals) face different types of decisions in relation to market participation, a discrete decision over whether or not to participate in a given market, and a continuous decision as to how much to sell conditional on market participation. following the Heckman two-step approach, the first step is to estimate a Probit model of participation in the relevant market as a function of both those variables that likely also determine butter sales volumes, conditional on market participation, as well as one or more exclusion restriction variables. The study was aimed at identify factors determining butter market participation and supply. Accordingly, the econometric result of market participation decision indicated butter yield, number of extension visit, market information access, family size, distance to nearest market and distance to development center are the significant factors affecting butter market participation. Similarly, quantity produced, distance to nearest market and distance to development center are significant factors affecting level of supply. Based on the study findings, institutional services, butter productivity and spatial setting are main determinants of butter market participation and volume of trade. Therefore, more attention is needed for investments in development of physical infrastructure, communication and road networks. It is also important develop farmers awareness and decision making capacity through training. Institutional arrangements like cooperatives can also be very successful in dealing with both information asymmetries and easily attain competitive edge. In addition, extension agents service should go beyond production technique and therefore should address issues related to marketing, saving and finally commercialization of butter will be achieved. Keywords: butter supply, market participation, Heckman’s two step mode