Africa RISING Ethiopian Highlands Integrated Landscape Management Exchange Visit, 4-7 May 2016

United States Agency for International Developmen

The effect of soil bunds on run-off, soil loss, soil moisture dynamics and crop yield in the Jawe-gumbura watershed, Ethiopia

United States Agency for International Developmen

Soil organic carbon dynamics along chrono-sequence land-use systems in the highlands of Ethiopia

Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics along land-use changes influences the terrestrial and global carbon cycle, the climate, soil fertility, agricultural productivity, and food security. Taking soils under native forests as an appropriate ecological reference, we studied changes in soil organic carbon stock along eight land-use types in the highlands of Ethiopia. The general objective of the study was to investigate the dynamics of SOC stock following chrono-sequence land-use/cover systems in the highlands of Ethiopia. The specific objectives were to: (1) analyze loss due to land degradation; (2) analyze gain due to land restoration; and (3) estimate partial balance of SOC stock for the highlands of Ethiopia. The study followed the principle of the Forest Transition Theory (FTT). Eleven sub-areas were considered from the highlands of Ethiopia. A total of 241 auger composite samples from the topsoil (0−20 cm depth) were collected during December 2017 to June 2018, and analyzed at CropNut soil lab in Nairobi. The study results revealed that there were statistically significant variations (P < 0.05) across the land-use types with the mean stocks ranging from 31.4 Mg SOC ha−1 in soils of intensively grazed lands to 145.0 Mg SOC ha−1 in soils of guasa grasslands. Soils of natural/pristine vegetation and protected guasa grasslands contain the highest amount of SOC stock. Therefore, there should be more aggressive efforts towards an effective protection of these ecosystems. Soils under intensively used croplands and intensively grazed lands lost, respectively, 64.95% and 78.16%, SOC stocks originally accumulated in the top surface layers of the pristine forests. This points for the need to adopt locally feasible land management practices that lead to increased SOC stock and simultaneously reduced CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions from croplands and intensively grazed lands of the highlands of Ethiopia. Compared to stocks of SOC of intensively grazed lands (31.44 Mg SOC ha−1 ), the annual stock gains in soils of controlled grazing lands (4.60 Mg ha−1 ) were > gains in soils of enclosures (3.17 Mg ha−1 ) > gains in soils of afforestation (2.35 Mg SOC ha−1 ), which signifies that converting degraded lands to either controlled grazing lands, enclosures, or afforestation would be a promising practice for an enhanced carbon sequestration across the highlands of Ethiopia. This practice is in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The estimated regional partial stock balance revealed that the loss and gain ratio was 35.1 in 1991, and it declined to 15.4 in 2001, 2.2 in 2011 and 1.8 in 2015. These decreasing ratios indicate the possibility of closing the gap between the losses and the gains in the near future, and eventually shifting to higher rates of gains than losses. It is also important to note that determined efforts towards the effective protection of natural forests and the creation of enclosures and reforestation areas by local communities for enhanced carbon sequestration will benefit them from payments of carbon emission reduction (CER) credits

Soil and water managements and landscapes: Africa RISING science, innovations and technologies with scaling potential from the Ethiopian highlands

United States Agency for International Developmen

Agroclimate prediction and advisory for Ethiopian agricultural extension

To date, the performance of Belg rainfall has been mixed with favorable conditions in the southern and eastern half of Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), and adjoining western areas of Oromia. However, in eastern and southern Tigray, eastern Amhara, and northern Afar, seasonal rainfall has been erratic, delayed in onset, and slightly below average. As a result, Belg planting was delayed in these areas, and in some cases, farmers were deterred from planting despite heavy April rainfall. However, the favorable Gu/Genna rains (March to May) have supported relatively favorable production prospects for pastoral and agropastoral communities of Somali and southern Oromia

Insufficient referral practices of sick children in Ethiopia shown in a cross-sectional survey.

AIM: This study aimed at assessing the referral of sick young infants and children from the community, health posts and health centres to higher levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four of the largest Ethiopian regions from December 2016 to February 2017. Referral practices were assessed at each level in 46 districts of these regions. Interviews were supplemented by reviews of registers at health posts and health centres. RESULTS: The women's development group leaders, who do not provide health services, referred half of the sick children they visited in the community to the health posts. The health extension workers referred 16% of the sick young infants and 6% of older infants and children to higher levels. From health centres, the health workers referred 6% of sick young infants and 1% of older infants and children to hospital. Many cases of possible severe bacterial infection were not referred to higher levels. A functional ambulance was available for a bit more than a third of the health centres. CONCLUSION: Referral practices of sick young infants and children at all levels were weak that may threaten the continued reduction of child mortality in Ethiopia. Referral logistics were insufficient, which partly could explain the missing referrals of severely ill infants and children