Child health problems in Ethiopia

1. Global situation or child health The world population is growing at an alarming rate and particularly so in the developing nations. Over 80% of the world's children live in the developing world (1) where child mortality and morbidity rates are the highest. Each year about 14 million under-five children die from malnutrition and infection, i.e. , 40,000 daily or 2000 per hour, of which 98 % occur in the developing countries (1). The main causes of mortality in these countries are diarrhoeal diseases, pneumonia, perinatal and neonatal problems, measles, neonatal tetanus and malaria (Table 1), over 60% of which are preventable at low cost in these countries (2). In 1980, an estimated five million children under 5 years of age, died as a consequence of diarrhoeal disease (3). After the introduction of ORT, a quarter-century ago, over one million young lives are now being saved a year .Still over two million under-five children in the world's poorest neighborhoods die necessarily every year of diarrhoeal diseases (4

Influence of Inter-Intra Row Spacing on Yield Losses of Tomato Cultivars

Field experiment was carried out at Melkassa Agricultural Research Center in 2012 and 2013 off-seasons using furrow irrigation with the objectives of evaluating the effect of four inter-row spacings (70, 80, 90, and 100 cm) and three intra-row spacing (20, 30 and 40 cm) on yield losses of tomato growing under open field production with fresh market (Bishola) and processing (Cochoro) type of determinate tomato cultivars. The treatments were arranged in 2x4x3 factorial in a split-split plot design in three eplications. Data on major yield loss agents such as, blossom end rot, decay, insect, disease, sunburn, crack, catface and others minor disorders were collected; as well as total yield, percent of marketable and unmarketable fruit yield parameters were analyzed. Results of the study showed that inter-intra row spacing and cultivar had a significant (

Influence of inter and intra-rows spacing on yield and yield components of tomato cultivars

Tomato is an important cash crop in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia and currently plant spacing practiced by growers quite different from research recommendation.Field experiment was carried out at Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, in the year 2011/12 and 2012/13 off seasons with the objectives of evaluating the effect of four inter-row spacings (70, 80, 90, and 100 cm) and three intra-row spacing (20, 30 and 40 cm) on yield and yield components of fresh market(Bishola) and processing (Cochoro) tomato cultivars. The treatments were arranged in 2x4x3 factorial in a split-split plot design in three replications. Data were collected on plant canopy width, above ground dry biomass as well total, marketable and unmarketable fruit yield and on quality parameters such as TSS, fruit length and diameter were analyzed. The results indicated that inter and inter-row spacing had a significant effect on plan canopy width, above ground dry biomass, total, marketable, unmarketable fruit yield, TSS, fruit length and diameter. The highest canopy width of Bishola (77.08 cm) was recorded at 40 cm x 100 cm whereas for Cochoro (71.30 cm) at 40 cm x 90 cm. Maximumfruit TSS (3.72) was recorded at 40 cm intra-row spacing and this was not significantly different from 30 cm (3.68). The highest total fruit yield of 100.45 and 92.55 ton/ha were recorded for closer inter and intra-row spacing of 70 and 20 cm, respectively. However, the highest marketable yield was obtained at 90 cm (51.48 ton/ha) inter-row spacing and at 30 cm (45.78 ton/ha) intra row spacing and this was not significantly different from 40 cm. The study suggest that 30 cm x 90 cm or 40 cm x 90 intra-inter row spacingcombination was suitable for obtaining higher marketable yield and good quality fruit around Melkassa and similar conditions in Ethiopia

Effect of planting methods on maturity and yield of onion (Allium cepa var cepa) in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Onion dry bulb are commonly established in the field either by direct sowing of seeds to the field, or by transplanting seedling from seedbed or from sets depending on the growing conditions of the specific region. However, the potential of the different methods have not been tested particularly in the potential onion producing areas of Ethiopia. Field experiments were conducted at Melkassa Research Center of Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research to investigate the effect of different planting methods on maturity and dry bulb yield of onion in two different seasons in 2008/09. The experiment consisted of three planting methods of onion, namely direct seeding to the field, transplanting of seedlings and planting sets, and three onion cultivars (Adama Red, Bombay Red and Nasik Red), arranged in factorial split plot design with three replications. Cultivars were assigned to the main plot and planting methods to the sub-plot. Data on days to maturity, dry bulb yield, bulb weight and bulb diameter were collected. Planting methods and cultivars showed statistically significant difference (

Capital and debt maturity structures of a firm: evidence from selected African countries

The thesis examines the influence of institutional, macroeconomic, industry and firm characteristics on financing decisions of firms in nine select countries in Africa. It develops a battery of econometric models and examines 10 year (1999-2008) data pertaining to 986 non-financial firms and sample countries using various estimation procedures. The results suggest that financing decisions of firms in Africa is not only determined by firm characteristics (such as firm size and profitability, growth opportunities, asset tangibility and/or maturity, earnings volatility, dividend payout and non-debt-related tax-shield) but also by industry, macroeconomic (income group of the country, size of the overall economy and its growth, inflation and taxation) and institutional (legal origin, investor rights protection and law enforcement) factors. The research also demonstrates that firms in Africa face adjustment costs and/or benefits in rebalancing their capital and debt maturity structures to the optimal and such costs depend on select firm, industry, macroeconomic and institutional factors. Our findings signify that firms in Africa are concerned about transaction, agency and bankruptcy costs; information asymmetry and adverse selection problems; financial flexibility and access to finance issues; tax regimes, investor rights protection and law enforceability, among others in making their financing decisions. It is strongly recommended that governments, policy makers, and other stakeholders should pull their efforts together to come up with legislations, policies and directives that enhance investor rights protection and law enforcement which will in turn boost the confidence of market participants. The study also recommends that governments should use interest rate restraints and reserve and liquidity requirements to enhance financial deepening which will in turn enhance investors’ confidence

Market Incentives, Farmers’ Response and A Policy Dilemma: A Case Study on Expansion of Chat Production as a Cash Crop in the Eastern Ethiopian Highlands.\

This paper discusses the reasons for and effects of the dramatic expansion of chat production as a cash crop in the Hararghe Highlands of Ethiopia. Despite the Ministry of Agriculture’s deliberate attempt to marginalize and openly discourage chat production, farmers continue shifting their scarce resources to chat production. Using data generated by a rural livelihood survey from 197 randomly selected households, economic and non-economic factors contributing to the expansion of chat production are identified and its food and nutritional security impact was analyzed. The case study confirms once more again the power of market incentives in encouraging agricultural activity of peasant farmers even in the absence of functional research and extension systems. The study shows that households producing chat have good food security and thus the situation presents a policy dilemma: should the government promote or discourage chat production

Factors determining the degree of commercialization of smallholder agriculture: the case of potato growers in Kombolcha District, East Hararghe, Ethiopia

Potato is one of the most valuable and widely consumed crops in the world in general and in Ethiopia in particular. Similarly, in Kombolcha District, it is among the most important crops grown for sale and consumption by smallholder farmers. Commercializing such crops does have multiple benefits for the smallholder farmers of the district as the district has great potential for commercial vegetable production and there is a growing market opportunity for the products. However, potato growing smallholders in the district are producing at a subsistence level and their participation in the market (degree of commercialization) is not only low but also varies across the district. Hence, this study was initiated to identify factors determining the extent of market participation (degree of commercialization) of potato growers. Five potato growing Peasant Associations (PAs) were selected purposively from a total of 10 Peasant Associations and subsequently 133 respondents were selected using simple random sampling from the sampling frame i.e. potato growers. A formal survey was conducted to collect data, which was supported by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Both descriptive statistics and Robust OLS model were employed to analyze quantitative 1 Lecturer, Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, Haramaya University, Ethiopia 2 Postdoctoral fellow, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3 Professor, Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, Haramaya University, Ethiopia JAD 2 (1) 2011 Factors Determining the Degree of Commercialization 19 data; whereas qualitative data were analyzed using narrations and interpretations. The OLS results indicated that farm size allocated to potato, access to irrigation and access to market information were found to be significant in affecting extent of market participation (degree of commercialization) at 1 % probability level. Hence, organizing farmers into groups in order to have better access to irrigation, providing market information through networking and institutions and improving extension service and availing improved varieties, overall, modernizing potato production are therefore crucial in enhancing the extent of market participation (the degree of commercialization)

Livelihood Strategies and Food Security of Rural Households in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Despite the continuing economic dominance of agriculture in Wolaita, farm households widely engage in and pursue diverse livelihood activities to generate income and achieve food security. The major objectives of this study are to analyze households’ food security status as an outcome of livelihood strategies and identify factors affecting food security of rural farm households. For the purpose of this study primary data were collected from randomly selected 300 households in four woredas of the zone. The main tools of analysis for this study include descriptive statistics and logistic regression model. The finding of the survey result indicates that rural households in the study area practice diversified livelihood strategies, in that large part of the respondents (57.7%) combine agriculture with other activities (non/off-farm). Food security status of the households was analyzed based on nationally recommended calorie requirement (2200kcal) of the households. Based on this, about 57% of the sample households found to be food insecure. The relationship b/n rural households’ livelihood strategies and food security status depicted that majority of food secured households (62%) rely on farming alone as one of most important livelihood strategies. On the contrary, non-farming and off-farming activities were the common livelihood means which specifically practiced by food insecure households. Binary logit model results reveal that out of 25 explanatory variables included in the logistic model, 12 were found to be significant at less than 10% probability level. According to this, education, family size in AE, cultivated land size, frequency of extension visit, access for credit, access to farm plus off-farm activities, access to farm plus non-farm and off-farm activities, safety net aid, use of chemical fertilizer, cooperative membership and agro-ecological zone were found to be the most important determinants affecting the state of food security positively. On the other hand, family size in AE was found negatively and significantly affected food security status of the household. The finding of the study considers government and other concerned bodies to design appropriate development policies and strategies in relation to significant variables to bring sustainable livelihood improvement in attaining household food security goals. Keywords: Livelihood strategies, determinants of food security, rural households, binary logit model, Woliata, Ethiopi