Challenges and Opportunities of Local Seed Business (LSB) Development in Endamekhoni and Atsbiwemberta Weredas, Tigray, Ethiopia

There are two different types of seed marketing, known as formal and informal (farmers’) seed supply. The formal seed supply sector is not well developed in Ethiopia, it was able to provide only 10-20% of the actual seed demand and the remaining demand has been supplied by the farmers’ seed system. The informal seed system has been contributing a lot for the existence of the majority farmers’ economic performance for many centuries and still offers many opportunities for the seed security of farmers. However, the informal seed system has been performing in Ethiopia in general and Tigray in particular at individual level and not as a business; with almost no attention was given to improve the system through appropriate research and investment. The study therefore was aimed at analyzing the seed marketing challenges and investigates the Opportunities for Local Seed Business Development in Endamekhoni and Atsbiwemberta Weredas of Tigray region, Ethiopia. The study was conducted by collecting data from primary and secondary sources of seed marketing in the region, in three sample Kebelles of Atsibiwemberta and Endamekhoni Wereda, which was selected purposively because of the existence of Local Seed Business development pilot project supportive programme. Using random sampling procedure and probability proportionate to size of the population data has been collected from 147 total farmer respondents, of which 76 from Atsibiwemberta and 81 from Endamekhoni woredas. The data was analyzed using different qualitative and quantitative statistical procedures and methods. Both descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, percentage, Chi-square tests and t-test etc and econometric models were employed to study the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. A binary logit model was employed to analyze determinants of farmers’ participation in seed marketing. Sixteen explanatory variables were included in the model of which age of hhh was found negatively influencing whereas hhh’s knowledge, hhh’s access of credit service, cooperative membership of the hhh, and hhh understanding on importance of seed business, and existence of contract seed farming practice in thearea were found significant and positively influencing farmers’ participation in seed marketing. Based on the descriptive statistics, econometric models and focused group discussions results of this study, awareness creation program, managerial and technical capacity building of the seed producer society, seed business oriented extension system designing, community based financial institution establishment, start up capital support and long-term credit access, autonomous cooperative system promotion, link seed producer societies with contract farming and market information systems, support the seed producer societies to establish marketing infrastructure facilities are suggested as potential recommendations to promote sustainable local seed business development in the study areas

Spatially and temporally explicit water footprint accounting

The earth’s freshwater resources are subject to increasing pressure in the form of\ud consumptive water use and pollution (Postel, 2000; WWAP, 2003, 2006, 2009).\ud Quantitative assessment of the green, blue and grey water footprint of global production\ud and consumption can be regarded as a key in understanding the pressure put on the global\ud freshwater resources. The overall objective of this thesis is, therefore, to analyse the spatial\ud and temporal pattern of the water footprint of humans from both a production perspective\ud and a consumption perspective. The study quantifies in a spatially explicit way and with a\ud worldwide coverage the green, blue and grey water footprint of agricultural and industrial\ud production, and domestic water supply. The green, blue and grey water footprint of national\ud consumption is quantified and mapped for each country of the world. The study further\ud estimates virtual water flows and national and global water savings related to international\ud trade in agricultural and industrial goods. Next, the study assesses the blue water scarcity\ud for the major river basins of the world for the first time on a month-by-month basis, thus\ud providing more useful guidance on water scarcity than the usual annual estimates of water\ud scarcity. The study also contains five case studies: two specific product water footprint\ud studies, two specific country water footprint studies and one water footprint study on a\ud specific product from a specific region

Global Anthropogenic Phosphorus Loads to Freshwater and Associated Grey Water Footprints and Water Pollution Levels: A High-Resolution Global Study

We estimate the global anthropogenic phosphorus (P) loads to freshwater and the associated grey water footprints (GWFs) for the period 2002–2010, at a spatial resolution of 5 3 5 arc min, and com- pare the GWF per river basin to runoff to assess the P-related water pollution level (WPL). The global anthro- pogenic P load to freshwater systems from both diffuse and point sources is estimated at 1.5 Tg/yr. More than half of this total load was in Asia, followed by Europe (19%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (13%). The domestic sector contributed 54% to the total, agriculture 38%, and industry 8%. In agriculture, cereals production had the largest contribution to the P load (31%), followed by fruits, vegetables, and oil crops, each contributing 15%. The global total GWF related to anthropogenic P loads is estimated to be 147 3 1012 m3/yr, with China contributing 30%, India 8%, USA 7%, and Spain and Brazil 6% each. The basins with WPL \u3e 1 (where GWF exceeds the basin’s assimilation capacity) together cover about 38% of the global land area, 37% of the global river discharge, and provide residence to about 90% of the global population

A Global Assessment of the Water Footprint of Farm Animal Products

The increase in the consumption of animal products is likely to put further pressure on the world’s freshwater resources. This paper provides a comprehensive account of the water footprint of animal products, considering different production systems and feed composition per animal type and country. Nearly one-third of the total water footprint of agriculture in the world is related to the production of animal products. The water footprint of any animal product is larger than the water footprint of crop products with equivalent nutritional value. The average water footprint per calorie for beef is 20 times larger than for cereals and starchy roots. The water footprint per gram of protein for milk, eggs and chicken meat is 1.5 times larger than for pulses. The unfavorable feed conversion efficiency for animal products is largely responsible for the relatively large water footprint of animal products compared to the crop products. Animal products from industrial systems generally consume and pollute more ground- and surface-water resources than animal products from grazing or mixed systems. The rising global meat consumption and the intensification of animal production systems will put further pressure on the global freshwater resources in the coming decades. The study shows that from a freshwater perspective, animal products from grazing systems have a smaller blue and grey water footprint than products from industrial systems, and that it is more water-efficient to obtain calories, protein and fat through crop products than animal products

PENGARUH KEPEMILIKAN MANAJERIAL, KEPEMILIKAN INSTITUSIONAL, PROFITABILITAS DAN MANAJEMEN LABA TERHADAP KUALITAS LABA

Tujuan atas penelitian ini yakni menjelaskan serta menganalisis bagaimana pengaruh kepemilikan manajerial, kepemilikan institusional, profitabilitas dan manajemen laba terhadap kualitas laba. Jenis penelitian yakni digunakan data kuantitatif. Populasi yang digunakan pada penelitian ini ialah perusahaan manufaktur sektor industri barang konsumsi yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia periode 2017-2019. Sampel yang digunakan ialah 20 perusahaan dengan periode pengamatan selama 3 tahun. Motode dalam penentuan sampel yakni digunakannya  motode purposive sampling. Analisis  pengelolaan data yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah regresi linear berganda menggunakan spss versi 22. Hasil analisis telah memberikan simpulan yakni  kepemilikan menejerial, kepemilikan institusional, profitabilitas dan manajemen laba secara simultan mempengaruhi kualitas laba. kepemilikan manajerial tidak memengaruhi terhadap kualitas laba, kepemilikan institusional negativ mempengaruh  kualitas laba, profitabilitas secara persial mempengaruh  kualitas laba, menejemen laba secarah parsial berpengaruh terhadap kualitas laba

Crash Frequency Analysis of Left-side Merging and Diverging Areas on Urban Freeway Segments: A Case Study of I-75 through Downtown Dayton, Ohio

This paper analyzes the effect of left- and right-side merging and diverging areas and other variables such as light condition, roadway pavement condition, drivers’ age and presence of construction work zones on the occurrence frequency of crashes. A 6.5-mile (10.5-km) section of I-75 that passes through downtown Dayton, Ohio was considered. The area of interest has a high traffic volume and consists of different geometric design challenges including closely spaced merging and diverging ramps. A four-year record of crash data (2005–2008) and a statistical modeling technique that assumes a negative binomial distribution on generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to develop separate models for merging and diverging areas. The model results show that left-side merging and diverging areas are critical elements in crash frequency in the vicinity of ramps on freeways. In addition, pavement condition, light condition, and work zones were found to be significant predictors of crash frequency. Specifically, the results indicate that crashes are about 7.88 times more likely to occur on merging areas located on the left side of the freeway lanes compared to those on the right. For diverging areas, about 2.26 times more crashes are likely to occur near diverging areas on the left compared to those diverging on the right side of the freeway. In addition, adverse pavement conditions (such as wet pavement, snow, and ice), adverse light conditions (such as darkness and glare), and presence of work zone were found to be significant variables in the occurrence of crashes. Highlights: We analyze the effect of left-side merging and diverging areas on crash frequency. A case study uses a 6.5-mile (10.5-km) section of I-75 in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Left-side merging and diverging areas are critical in crash frequency on freeways. Crashes are more likely to occur near merging areas on the left side of the freeway. Crashes are more likely to occur near diverging areas on the left side of the freeway