Analysis of Market Structure, Conduct and Performance of Beef Cattle: The Case of Dugda District, East Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

This study was aimed to identifying the major market actors and their role in beef cattle market, and examining the market structure, conduct and performance in Dugda woreda of East shoa zone. Both primary and secondary data were used in this study. Primary data was collected from 120 sampled farmers and totally 39 traders at different levels by using semi-structured interview. Descriptive Statistics data analysis techniques were employed to analyze the beef cattle market structure, conduct and performance. The study result revealed that producers, both small and larger traders, small feedlot operators, butcheries, individual farmers for replacement or draft purposes and the final domestic consumers were the major beef cattle market actors in the study area. The market concentration ratio shows that there is strong oligopoly beef market structure in the study area. This shows only few traders were share the majority of market share and earn more profit than producers. Trading license, initial working capital, the risk of seasonal variation in demand and price offered were considerable barriers to entry to beef trading in the study area. The market conduct on the other hand shows there was no selling activity on credit basis, and the negotiation tool between sellers and buyers was mostly used for price determination in the study area. The marketing margin analysis indicates butcheries and hotels were received highest profit followed by small feedlot operators. The producers' share of final selling price or the consumer's price was found to be the highest in which producers directly sell to consumers. Intervention in improving market infrastructure, credit facilities and adding value is crucial in the study area to improve competitions among beef market actors. Keywords: Market Structure-Conduct-Performance, beef cattle, Dugda district

Determinants of Adoption and Intensity of Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties in Babile and Fedis Districts of East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Increasing agricultural productivity and improving the sustainable livelihoods of rural farmers are among the government of Ethiopia policy priorities. In this effort, adoption of improved agricultural technologies is expected to play a vital role. However, the uses of improved maize varieties are constrained by various factors. Hence, in this study, an attempt was made to examine determinants of adoption and intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select 218 sample households from both Babile and Fedis Districts using cross-sectional data. Double-hurdle econometric model was used to identify determinants of households’ adoption decision and intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties. The model results showed that age of household head, level of education of household head, farm experience in maize production, total farm size owned, access to extension services, improved maize seed availability, the distance nearest market and districts dummy were significantly determined the adoption of improved maize varieties in the first hurdle model (probit). In the second hurdle (truncated), sex of household head, age of household head, family size, farm experience, total farm size owned, districts dummy were found to significantly determined intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties. Therefore, the results of this study suggested that strengthening the extension services, improvements in improved seed delivery systems to large scaling up, improving market access and arranging the way to create job opportunities for rural youth unemployment to participate in seed production business are important. Keywords:Adoption, intensity of adoption, improved maize varieties, Hurdle Econometric Model, East Hararghe DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-23-05 Publication date: December 31st 202

Beef Cattle Value Chain Analysis in Bora and Dugda Districts, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

The research is financed by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)/Livestock and Irrigation Value chain for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) Project Abstract This study was aimed at analyzing beef cattle value chain in Bora and Dugda districts, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The specific objectives of the study were to identify major beef cattle value chain actors and their roles in beef cattle value chain in the study areas and the major constraints and opportunities in beef cattle value chain. About 120 smallholder beef cattle producers were selected randomly from the five kebeles administrations proportionally. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data. The value chain analysis results showed that the major value chain actors in the study areas are input suppliers, producers, traders, small feedlot operators, processors/butcheries, hotels and restaurants, and consumers. The study results also revealed that feed shortage, high prices of feed, disease outbreak and poor managements were the major constraints that farmers were faced on behalf of production side. From market side, market price instability, low price offered for the commodity and involvement of intermediatiaries were the major constraints. Improving beef cattle production and management through provision of effective extension services, inputs, strengthening farmers’ value addition (fattening) to beef cattle at farm level and developing efficient value chain were recommended for policy implications.  Keywords: Beef cattle, Value chain and Bora and Dugda Districts DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/87-03 Publication date:May 31st 201

Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties in Babile and Fedis Districts of East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Increasing agricultural productivity and improving the sustainable livelihoods of rural farmers are among the government of Ethiopia policy priorities. In this effort, adoption of improved agricultural technologies is expected to play a vital role. However, the uses of improved maize varieties are constrained by various factors. Hence, in this study, an attempt was made to examine factors affecting adoption of improved maize varieties. A multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select 218 sample households from both Babile and Fedis Districts using cross-sectional data. Probit econometric model was used to identify factors affecting households’ adoption decision to improved maize varieties. The model results indicated that age of household head, level of education of household head, farm experience in maize production, total farm size owned, access to extension services, access to improved maize seed, the distance nearest market and districts dummy were significantly affect the adoption of improved maize varieties in the study districts. The empirical results of this study suggests that strengthening the extension services, improvements in improved seed delivery systems for further promotion. The study also suggests that policy intervention should be made on improving the educational level of farming households is also important. Keywords: Adoption, Improved maize varieties, Probit model, East Hararghe DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/122-01 Publication date:July 31st 202

Source Parameter Study Based on the April 18, 2008 (5.4 Mw) Mt. Carmel, Illinois Earthquake Sequence

The April 18, 2008 (5.4 Mw) Mt. Carmel, Illinois earthquake is the largest event in the central United States in the previous 40 years. Approximately 180 aftershocks (0.8 to 4.6) were located using a combination of regional network stations and temporary broadband seismometers deployed in the epicentral area by the University of Memphis and Indiana University. To help constrain earthquake source mechanism, the orientation of faults and the tectonic processes of the area, moment tensor inversion of these aftershocks is performed. i have tested a moment tensor inversion technique using synthetic data in the presence of realistic noise levels and determined that source parameters for aftershocks with Mw \u3c 2.1 can not be resolved. The method was applied to the observed data, yielding nineteen-earthquake moment tensor estimates for events between 5.4 Mw to 2.3 Mw. Fault orientations are approximately east-west, consistent with previous studies

Determinants of Beef cattle Market Participation Decision by Smallholder Farmers in Dugda and Bora Districts, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

The research is financed by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)/Livestock and Irrigation Value chain for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) Project Abstract Market participation plays an essential role in generating better income and enhancing welfare of smallholder farmers. This study was aimed to investigate the determinants of smallholder farmers’ participation decision in beef cattle market in Dugda and Bora Districts. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select sample households for data collection. A total of 152 beef cattle producer sampled households were randomly selected from the districts and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Both descriptive statistics and probit econometric model were applied to analyze determinants of smallholder farmers’ market participation decision in beef cattle market. The findings of the model showed that sex, age, education level of household head, family size, and number of beef cattle owned, crop income and access to market information were significantly affect smallholder farmers’ market participation decision in beef cattle market. This study suggested that relevant policy interventions in the directions of above-mentioned aspects are vital to encouraging smallholder farmers’ market participation decision in beef cattle market. Keywords: Beef cattle, Market participation decision, Probit Model, Bora and Dugda Districts DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-20-05 Publication date:October 31st 2019

Malnutrition: Prevalence and its associated factors in People living with HIV/AIDS, in Dilla University Referral Hospital

BACKGROUND: Literatures on prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition among peoples living with HIV/AIDS are limited in Ethiopia and not well documented either. The proper implementation of nutritional support and its integration with the routine highly active antiretroviral therapy package demands a clear picture of the magnitude and associated factors of malnutrition. The objective of this study is, therefore, to assess the prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition among peoples living with HIV/AIDS. METHODS: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted in Dilla University referral Hospital including adult HIV patients who were in highly active anti retroviral therapy. Interview administered questionnaires were used to collect data on socio demographic factors. Besides, HIV related clinical information was extracted from anti retro viral therapy data base and clinical charts. The nutritional status of the patients was determined by Body Mass Index (BMI) where BMI < 18kg/m(2) was defined as malnutrition according to World Health Organization (WHO). Binary logistic regression was used to assess association between different risk factors and malnutrition. Confidence interval of 95% was considered to see the precision of the study and the level of significance was taken at α <0.05. RESULTS: A total of 520 patients were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of malnutrition was 12.3% (95% CI 9.5–15.0). After full control of all variables; unemployment (OR = 3.61, 95% CI: 3.6 − 7.76), WHO clinical stage four (OR = 12.9, 95% CI: 2.49− 15.25), gastrointestinal symptoms (OR = 5.3, 95% CI: 2.56 − 10.78) and previous (one) opportunistic infection (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 2.06 − 5.46), and two & above previous opportunistic infections (OR = 4.5, 95% CI: 3.38 − 10.57) were significantly associated with malnutrition. However, moderately poor economic condition was found to be protective factor for malnutrition (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.14 − 0.95). CONCLUSION: Unemployment, WHO clinical AIDS stage four, one & more number of previous opportunistic infections and gastrointestinal symptoms were found to be important risk factors for malnutrition among People Living with HIV/AIDS. From this study it has been learnt that nutritional programs should be an integral part of HIV/AIDS continuum of care. Furthermore, it needs to improve household income of PLHIV with employment opportunity and to engage them in income generating activities as well

Epidemiologic survey of respiratory symptoms among workers of small grain mills and others

Abstract: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was compared in a grain dust exposed group of 57 grain mill workers and grain traders and an unexposed group of 181 civic, shop, snack bar and municipal labor workers in Kola Diba town using standard medical and occupational questionnaire. The two groups were comparable by age, sex and prevalence of smoking. Symptoms of expectoration and dyspnoea, cough, wheeze, chest tightness, sneezing and rhinnorhoea occurred significantly higher in the exposed than in the unexposed group. Recognizing Ethiopia’s predominant agricultural economy and an unavoidable expansion of small grain grinding mills in rural cooperatives and townships, the paper attempts to indicate the need for documenting the level of grain dust pollution and investigating its occupational health hazard. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1998;12(3):213-215

Gender inequality and the sexual and reproductive health status of young and older women in the Afar Region of Ethiopia

The main purpose of this research was to analyze gender context in the Afar region of Ethiopia and propose a set of strategies or actions to improve adolescent and youth health. Using a pre-established gender analysis framework, an explorative qualitative study was conducted in five districts. Sixteen key informants and eight focus group discussions were conducted among adult women and men of young adolescents and youth. The study revealed that younger and older women are the most disadvantaged groups of the society. This is due to the high workload on women and girls (housekeeping, building a house and taking care of cattle and children), they also are less valued, have no control over resources and have no part in decision making, including their personal life choices. As a result, they rarely access school and health facilities. They are forced get married according to arranged marriage called “absuma.” As such, they suffer from multiple reproductive health problems. Women have poor decision-making autonomy, lack control over resources, have limited participation in socio-economic practices, and experience child and early forced marriage, and this poor service utilization has exposed them to the worst sexual and reproductive health outcomes

COVID 19 Epidemic Trajectory Modeling Results for Ethiopia

AbstractBackground: An outbreak of “pneumonia of unknown etiology" later renamed as Novel Corona Virus (COVID 19) was first reported from Hubei Province, China on 31 December 2019. The cases have increased exponentially; the pandemic has reached all countries in the world with 81.2 million confirmed cases and over 1.8 million by December 28, 2020. Ethiopia reported its first case on March 13, 2020, and as of December 28, 2020, the country had 122864 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1909 deaths. Being a new pandemic its epidemiologic trajectories across regions and populations remains unknown. Mathematical models are widely used to understand and predict the possible courses of an outbreak, given a set of underlying assumptions. Objective: This study intends to model COVID 19 epidemic trajectory under different assumptions and to predict the likely timing of peak of the epidemic in Ethiopia. Methods: Standard Susceptible Exposed, Infected and Recovery (SEIR) compartmental epidemiological deterministic model was employed to estimate and predict COVID 19 in progression in Ethiopia and Addis Ababa at different points of time. Exhaustive literature reviews were carried out to contextualize COVID 19 pandemic epidemiological. Efficacy and coverage of face mask and social distancing were considered in the best and worst situation to run the model and estimate the number of infections after sustained local transmissions. Result. Without any intervention, the COVID 19 viruses spread will peak at 150 days from the first report, infecting 8.01million people given local/community transmission. As the compliance with face mask coverage increases by 25%, 50%, and 75%, the infection will be reduced by about 20%, 40%, and 60% respectively social distancing compliance by le 25% of the population alone will reduce above 60% of infections. Compliance of 40% face mask use and social distance combined effect will reduce 97% of the estimated number of cases. Conclusion: This predication indicated that compliance with combination of non-pharmaceutical intervention such as use of face mask use with physical distance averted significant number of COVID infection. For a county like Ethiopia with poor health systems resilience, mitigating the pandemic at an early stage through strong preventive measures is necessary. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2021; 35(SI-1):25-32] Key word: COVID 19, Modelling, Non-Pharmaceutica intervention, Ethiopi