Risk Preferences as Determinants of Soil Conservation Decisions in Ethiopia

Soil degradation is one of the most serious environmental problems in the highlands of Ethiopia. The prevalence of traditional agricultural land use and the absence of appropriate resource management often result in the degradation of natural soil fertility. This has important implications for soil productivity, household food security, and poverty. Given the extreme vulnerability of farmers in this area, we hypothesized that farmers’ risk preferences might affect the sustainability of resource use. This study presents experimental results on the willingness of farmers to take risks and relates the subjective risk preferences to actual soil conservation decisions. The study looks at a random sample of 143 households with 597 farming plots. We found that a high degree of risk aversion significantly decreases the probability of adopting soil conservation. This implies that reducing farmers’ risk exposure could promote soil conservation practices and thus more sustainable natural resource management. This might be achieved by improving tenure security, promoting access to extension services and education, and developing off-farm activities that generate income.adoption, Ethiopia, risk preference, soil conservation

Quality protein maize (QPM) for better nutrition in Ethiopia

Poster prepared for a share fair, Addis Ababa, May 201

Measuring Male-Female Productivity Differentials in Ethiopian Agriculture: Policy Implications for Improving the Livelihood of Female Farmers

An understanding of the efficiency with which women farmers are operating, particularly where they account for the largest share of the labor force required for agricultural production, is essential for designing appropriate policies to improve the overall performance of agriculture as well as the livelihood of women farmers. This paper contributes to the gender productivity debate by drawing on crop production data collected in three districts (Ada, Akaki and Gimbichu) in East Shoa, Ethiopia during the 1999/2000 cropping season through detailed multi-visit surveys of 80 farm households of which 39 were female-headed households. Using the Tornqvist-Theil index, Total factor productivity (TFP) is measured to analyze crop production efficiency differentials between male and female headed households. The analysis demonstrates that there is little evidence that male-female differences per se account f or productivity differentials in crop production. The results imply that the variation in overall TFP can only arise due to differentials in access to the quality of human and physical resources and services, and differential control of the benefits from output by women versus men. Hence, appropriate institutional frameworks that reduce cultural and social barriers associated with women farmers' access to such resources and benefits should be developed. Policies targeted towards increasing female farmers' access to education, extension services, credit, adequate amount of quality land and other resources including control over the benefits, will improve the overall productivity and livelihood of female farmers.Agricultural efficiency, total factor productivity, gender, Ethiopian agriculture, Labor and Human Capital, D2, Q12, Q18,

Seed filling and oil accumulation in noug [Guizotia abyssinica (L.F.) Cass.]

A field experiment was carried out to study the pattern, rate and duration of seed dry weight (SDW) and oil accumulation in two improved noug varieties during 1995 and 1996. Seeds from uniformly flowered heads were harvested manually seven days after anthesis initiation (DAAI) and continued for 60 days with four days interval. Thousand seed weight and percent oil content were determined for each harvest. The study shows that the extended reproductive period in noug could be well shortened by selecting plants with determinate or semi-determinate growth habit without affecting seed and oil yield. Plants with determinate or semi-determinate growth habit are, hence, morphological ideotypes to look for in noug improvement. Key words/phrases: Guizotia abyssinica, oil accumulation, noug, seed dry weight accumulation SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol.27(1) 2004: 25-3

The geotectonic evolution of the Western Ethiopian shield

The western Ethiopian Shield comprises three lithotectonic units. The Birbir domain, an assemblage of mafic to felsic intrusive and extrusive rocks and mainly volcanogenic sedimentary rocks, is enclosed between the dominantly orthogneissic Baro and Geba domains. The earliest recorded deformation event (D1) resulted in the formation of a subhorizontal gneissosity within the gneissic terranes which was synchronous with an early upper amphibolite-facies metamorphic peak (M1) at 800–770 Ma which locally caused partial melting. All terrains were subsequently deformed in the D2 event which was the result of severe E-W crustal shortening. An anticlockwise P-T-t path is implied. Subsequent D3 deformation was concentrated within mylonitised domain boundaries which record major transcurrent movement. These structures were reactivated and suffered fluid incursion resulting in isotopic reequilibration at 635–580 Ma. A second metamorphic event, M2, related to crustal thickening and consequent granite genesis, occurred after the cessation of D3 shearing. Bulk chemical analyses show that the metamorphosed plutonic and volcanic rocks of the Birbir domain are predominantly calc-alkaline and similar to those generated by subduction in modern magmatic arcs. They belong in part to the low-K series, suggesting an oceanic environment. The evolution of the region can be explained in terms of the melting of a subducting slab, intrusion, metamorphism and the formation of an oceanic island arc complex. Continued plate convergence caused severe east-west shortening and basin closure. Further attenuation gave rise to transcurrent shearing, fluid influx, a second thermal event and accretion of microcontinents. Key words/phrases: Accretion, cratonisation, isotope systems, subduction, transcurrent movement SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol.25(2) 2002: 227-25

Structure and functioning of chickpea markets in Ethiopia: evidence based on analyses of value chains linking smallholders and markets

This paper looks into one of the key policy questions - understanding of how rural grain markets function in the context of market liberalization and how the emerging architecture of marketing channels determines the distribution of costs, margins and prices for different participants in the marketing chains. We explore these issues using the case of chickpeas, one of the newly emerging export commodities being promoted for expansion in Ethiopia. Despite its important role and good potentials, the chickpea production system is not adequately market-oriented and competitiveness of smallholders is limited by low productivity and poor quality of traditional varieties (Shiferaw et al. 2007). Despite the policy interest to expand chickpea production for exports, there is lack of empirical evidence on the structure, conduct and performance of the chickpea marketing systems in the country. This study attempts to narrow this gap by examining the chickpea marketing system in one of the major growing areas and provides new insights on how the performance of the marketing system may be enhanced to improve competitiveness. Using primary data collected from a survey of marketing channels in one of the major chickpea growing areas in the country (Ada';a-Liben), we map the marketing channels and value chains for chickpeas and estimate the distribution of costs, margins and prices for the different participants in the identified value chains. The first section presents the conceptual issues in the analyses of marketing channels, value chains and measurement of marketing costs. This is followed by description of the study area, the survey data and the empirical approach and methods used in the analysis. The next section presents the main result with emphasis on identification and mapping of chickpea marketing channels and the distribution of costs, margins and prices across different market participants. The last section presents a summary of the key findings and conclusions, highlighting implications for policy

Diversity analysis of Ethiopian mustard breeding lines using RAPD markers

Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) is an oilseed crop less known to the other parts of the world. Utilization of the available germplasm of B. carinata for different breeding purposes requires information on genetic diversity. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was employed to characterize the genetic diversity of 22 B. carinata inbred lines derived from accessions collected from eight different geographic areas in Ethiopia and one from Sweden. Forty-three primers were used for amplification. The resulting RAPD pattern was analysed with respect to size and distribution of fragments, reproducibility, genetic diversity and informativeness of the marker for genotype specific amplification. In total, 371 bands were amplified of which 239 (65%) were polymorphic. Band size ranged from 300 to 4000 kb. The number of bands generated by each primer varied from 3 to 15 with an average of 8.6, while number of polymorphic bands varied from 1 to 12 with an average of 5.6. RAPD patterns were reliably reproducible between replicates. Genetic similarity (GS) calculated from the marker data using Jaccard`s similarity coefficient (JCS) ranged from 0.34 to 0.84. Using cluster analysis based on unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), the 21 Ethiopian inbred lines were grouped into three subgroups and the single genotype introduced from Sweden formed a separate group. The clustering pattern failed to show a clear correspondence between geographic and molecular diversities within the Ethiopian gene pool. Generally, RAPD differentiation was higher for the exotic genotype, thus formation of a gene pool distinct from the Ethiopian gene pool could be possible through introduction. Based on the genetic relatedness, selective parental combinations were earmarked as potential parents for the future breeding work. The RAPD assay generated genotype-specific products in 14 of the genotypes studied which could be used as DNA fingerprint for variety identification

Magnitude and Pattern of Inpatient Surgical Mortality in a Tertiary Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Inpatient mortality is among regularly collected data in Key performance indicators in the Ethiopian healthcare system, and it is generally reported to the Federal Ministry of Health and is used as one of inpatient services quality indicators. This study was undertaken to identify the magnitude, causes and pattern of mortalities among patients who are admitted and treated in surgical wards in Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College for a period of three years.METHODS: A retrospective review was done on all patients admitted and died in the Department of Surgery in St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College from January 1, 2016–Dec 30, 2018.RESULT: There were 10,259 admissions over three years and out of which there were 350 deaths between 2016-2018 making a crudemortality rate of 3.41 %. The commonest mode of admission was for emergency conditions, 195(62.7%). Out of emergency admissions, 139 mortalities were from general emergency surgery and 75 patients died from elective general surgery admissions. Eighty-four (26.9%) patients had comorbidity and the commonest comorbidity was anemia 21(25%). The commonest possible cause of death was multi-organ failure secondary to septic shock, 159(51%). Mortality rate patterns along the three years (2016, 2017, 2018) showed 3.34% (112/3360), 2.87% (102/3552) and 2.92% (98/3347) respectively.CONCLUSION: The mortality rate of this study is much higher than global rates, but still there is a significant difference from other developing countries and also other researches in this country. Pattern of mortality did not show any difference across years of the study period

Institutional implications of governance of local common pool resources on livestock water productivity in Ethiopia

This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Improving water productivity depends on how local communal water and grazing resources are governed. This involves institutional and organizational issues. In the mixed farming systems of the Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, non-participatory water users’ associations, neglect of traditional water rights, corruption, village power relations, inequitable allocation of irrigated land and free-grazing practice impact the governance of local common pool resources (CPR). Indigenous governance structures for CPR such as the kire are participatory and effective in terms of rule enforcement. Externally initiated governance structures lack acceptance by farmers and sufficient support from local government. In order to improve water productivity in the mixed farming systems, institutional deficiencies need attention and existing indigenous governance structures require recognition and support.Peer Reviewe

Live animal and meat export value chains for selected areas in Ethiopia: constraints and opportunities for enhancing meat exports

The Ethiopian live animal and meat export marketing system is operating in an environment characterized by several constraints that needs the attention and action of the government and other non-governmental development organizations. Despite the reported high livestock population of the country, the major meat and live animal exporters are complaining of shortage of supply and inferior quality of animals (especially shoats). The problem could be because of the constraints in the marketing system of exporters themselves, the market information system, poor market infrastructures like road, seasonality in production, competition of the domestic and the export sector, problems in the production system, or a combination of several factors. Thus, it is imperative to identify the major factors contributing to the reported supply shortage that has hindered smooth functioning of the Ethiopian live animal and meat export market and take appropriate action as much as possible. This study, therefore, characterizes live animal and meat export value chains to determine constraints and opportunities for enhancing the efficiency of meat export from Ethiopia. The study was conducted using a Rapid Market Appraisal (RMA), which is a method that offers a quick and effective means for: learning about the main characteristics of the marketing system; mapping the supply chains, understanding constraints and opportunities, and generating information as a basis for designing follow-up research such as focused survey of value chain components and actors