THE EFFECT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MONETARY CHANGES ON THE NAMIBIAN ECONOMY: CASE STUDY ON BEEF INDUSTRY

The aim of this study is to measure the long and short term dynamics of trade with South Africa, impact of Common Monetary Area (CMA) on the Namibian beef price. More specifically, it examines the relationship between monetary change by South African Central Bank Governor (i.e. taking exchange rate and interest rate as explanatory variables) and the beef industry a case study to the Namibian economy. The Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) was applied by using beef price a dependent variable, with a mentioned set of explanatory variables. As the study hypothesized the study has found a significant linkage between monetary shock occurred in South Africa simultaneously affect the beef industry (or the Namibian agriculture sector in general), and also bears the burden of adjustment in the economy, that could increases farmers financial vulnerability. The dynamic relationships of trading between Namibia and South Africa, more specifically the volatile nature of rand and interest rate have influenced consumers to absorb short-run price change. This change could be substantially affecting the poor households. The result has found that Namibian consumers have to absorb the short run price overshooting, which in turn impacts on the ability to manage their cash flow. For example, the result finding shows one percent change in South Africa money supply or appreciation (depreciation) of rand leads to double change in beef price in Namibia. Due to the linkages between monetary policy variables and relative agricultural prices, it is recommended that agricultural policy makers and monetary authorities in CMA need to work closely in designing and implementing monetary policy. This is important because monetary policies meant to stabilize the economy may have less desirable impacts on farmers and consumers, especially in the short run.leader, professional environment, evolution process, evolution climate, approaching pattern.

The impact of trade liberalisation on South African agricultural productivity

This study attempts to examine the empirical relationship between trade and total factor productivity (TFP) in the agricultural sector using both cross -sectiona, (across nine agricultural commodities), and time -series analysis. The Error Correction Model of ordinary least square (OLS) results from the cross -sectional analysis confirm that export shares and capital formation were found to be positive and significant; whereas, import shares and real exchange rate were found to be related negatively. However, the net effect of export and import shares had a positive effect. This implies that trade liberalisation causes productivity gains. Moreover, the time -series analysis goes in the same direction as the cross -sectional results, showing that there is a robust relationship among TFP, degree of openness, and capital formation. Whereas, debt was found to be inversely related, this implies that agricultural industries / farmers lack debt management skills.TFP, OLS, Trade liberalization or degree of openness, capital formation, International Relations/Trade,

The Effectiveness of Recruitment and Selection of Trainees for National Defense Force – the case of Central Zone of Tigray Region

Ethiopian Ministry of Defense has developed a set of well-defined guidelines that are used in the selection of new recruits for the national defense force, based on clearly defined criteria and other nationally accepted yardsticks. Nevertheless, the challenges and prospects of the selection and screening of potential candidates that are fit by all standards to serve in the national defense forces has not so far been well investigated. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the challenges and prospects of the selection and recruitment processes of trainees and coming up with recommendations. A complete assessment of the respondents in each of the twelve weredas and one zonal security administration was conducted following a purposive sampling scheme. Zonal and four woreda security committee were purposively selected for focus group discussions because they are among the people involved in the screening and selection of candidates for military training in the area who have more knowledge and experience on the issue. The study has identified that the recruitment and selection process of candidates in the Central Zone of Tigray was not effective owing to poor recruitment and selection criteria, allocation of insufficient budget, lack of good coordination and integration and unsatisfactory level of transparency among committee members during the screening and selection process as well as absence of efforts to create an inspiring and popular image of the Ethiopian Defense Forces. This study has, therefore, come up with recommendations such as having appropriate recruitment and selection criteria, allocating sufficient budget and creating positive image towards the Ethiopian Defense Force

Designing and implementing a GIS-based cadastral database for land administration in the city of Asmara, Eritrea.

Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.The knowledge and application of land information and GIS in Eritrea are very limited and as a result there is a shortage of sufficient, reliable, up-to-date and modem land information for decision-making. This study aimed to develop and design a GIS-based cadastral database for land administration in the city of Asmara, Eritrea. The two components of the cadastral data, the spatial and non-spatial were collected and processed in a GIS environment. GIS-based cadastral data was created to store the data. A recently acquired IKONOS image and existing Auto CAD data were the main sources of data for the study. Geo-rectification, conversion, ,building of topology, spatial adjustment, and digitizing were used' for creating the parcels and roads of Asmara city. A key of relation was created to link both the spatial and non-spatial components of the cadastre. The study used illustrated practical examples to show how GIS-based cadastral data could support land administration as practiced by the different divisions of the Municipal Office of Asmara city. The importance and usage of the cadastral database for urban planners and property valuators were detailed. Spatial and network analysis were used to develop bands for creating a banded property appraisal system for assessing the service catchment area~ of hospitals and the only fire station. Further, a location allocation model was <,I:lso developed to recommend suitable sites for new fire stations in the city of Asmara. It is recommended that the Municipal Office of Asmara adopts the designed GIS-based database. It is also recommended there the major cities in Eritrea follow similar methodology to design and implement cadastre database for their administration

COMMUNAL LIVESTOCK HUSBANDRY PRACTICES AND THEIR IMPACT ON MARKET PARTICIPATION: a case study from Zambezi region in Namibia

This paper examines the factors determining adoption of improved livestock management practices by communal livestock farmers in Zambezi region, of Namibia. Data was collected from 86 communal livestock farmers who are participating in a Farmer Support Project (FSP) funded by GIZ. Descriptive statistics and multi-logistic regression model were used to analyze the data. Of the respondents 48% had secondary education, with 35% having herd sizes ranging between 11 to 30 cattle composed of cows (34%), heifers (22%) and oxen (26%). Multi-logistic regression model analysis showed that the probability of adopting better livestock management technologies increased with education, financial assistance, farmer advice in animal health, and total number of cattle owned by a farmer. The conclusion that was made is that in order to increase adoption of improved technologies, efforts should be made to enhance access of farmers to education, financial assistance, and training in animal management practices.   Keywords: adoption, livestock management practices, multi-logistic regression model, socio-economic factors, weaners, communal areas, productivit

Edutainment communication strategies against HIV/AIDS through radio : case study of Radio Ukhozi FM and Radio Dimsti-Hafash.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.Today. the pandemic of HIV/AIDS has become a serious challenge especially in developing and underdeveloped nations. For this reason, all nations, different health institutions and nongovernmental organizations are investing their wealth to increase public awareness on the seriousness of this pandemic disease. Media institutions also play an unparalleled role in controlling HIV/AIDS through educating the society. HIV/AIDS is a great threat both to South Africa and Eritrea as they are part of the Sahale Sahara of Africa. That area is highly affected and infected by the pandemic. It is certain that media have been used to disseminate information in the society about HIV/AIDS in both countries. This study attempts to identify the nature of communication strategies that are employed against HIV/AIDS by Radio Ukhozi FM in South Africa and Radio Dimitsi-Hafash Programme Tigringa in Eritrea. The study attempts to identify the communication formats that both radio stations utilize to increase public awareness about HIV/AIDS. It also examines whether both stations are using Entertainment-Educational communication strategies to disseminate HIV/AIDS messages. Furthermore, the study assesses target audience participation; both stations assessment of their programme and scheduling of HIV/AIDS awareness messages. Finally, it attempts to single out the challenges that both stations encounter in designing messages for combating HIV/AIDS in their respective communities

The estimation of Eucalyptus plantation forest structural attributes using medium and high spatial resolution satellite imagery.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.Sustaining the socioeconomic and ecological benefits of South African plantation forests is challenging. A more systematic and rapid forest inventory system is required by forest managers. This study investigates the utility of medium (ASTER 15 m) and high (IKONOS 1-4 m) spatial resolution satellite imageries in an effort to improve the remote capture of structural attributes of even-aged Eucalyptus plantations grown in the warm temperate climatic zone of southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The conversion of image data to surface reflectance is a pre-requisite for the establishment of relationships between satellite remote sensing data and ground collected forest structural data. In this study image-based atmospheric correction methods applied on ASTER and IKONOS imagery were evaluated for the purpose of retrieving surface reflectance of plantation forests. Multiple linear regression and canonical correlation analyses were used to develop models for the prediction of plantation forest structural attributes from ASTER data. Artificial neural networks and multiple linear regression were also used to develop models for the assessment of plantation forests structural attributes from IKONOS data. The plantation forest structural attributes considered in this study included: stems per hectare, diameter at breast height, mean tree height, basal area, and volume. In addition, location based stems per hectare were determined using high spatial resolution panchromatic IKONOS data where variable and fixed window sizes of local maxima were employed. The image-based dark object subtraction (DOS) model was better suited for atmospheric correction of ASTER and IKONOS imagery of the study area. The medium spatial resolution data were not amenable to estimating even-aged Eucalyptus forest structural attributes. It is still encouraging that up to 64 % of variation could be explained by using medium spatial resolution data. The results from high spatial resolution data showed a promising result where the ARMSE% values obtained for stems per hectare, diameter at breast height, tree height, basal area and volume are 7.9, 5.1, 5.8, 8.7 and 8.7, respectively. Results such as these bode well for the application of high spatial resolution imagery to forest structural assessment. The results from the location based estimation of stems per hectare illustrated that a variable window size approach developed in this study is highly accurate. The overall accuracy using a variable window size was 85% (RMSE of 189 trees per hectare). The overall findings presented in this study are encouraging and show that high spatial resolution imagery was successful in predicting even-aged Eucalyptus forest structural attributes in the warm temperate climates of South Africa, with acceptable accuracy

Measuring factors that can influence cattle supply response to the market in Namibia: Case study from Omaheke communal farmers

The study examined the factors that can influence the supply of cattle to the market in Namibia, with a specific focus on four communal areas of the Omaheke Region. A total of 100 cattle farmers were interviewed and the weighted least square (WLS) model was applied to analyse the data. The study found that the number of cattle owned, cost of production inputs, accessibility to market information, accessibility to local markets and rainfall have a strong influence on the sales volume. The study strongly recommends the formation of cattle marketing groups that can be employed to lower transaction cost, increase bargaining power, access to information and participation in formal markets. There is a need to improve access to institutions and to remove current distortions in the livestock marketing in Namibia. The study shows that there is an inverse relationship between source and information and volume of sales. When the barrier to source of information increases, the volume of sales decreases. The current policy advice should focus on the effects of policy distortions and adequate attention should be given to the serious, embedded institutional deficiencies that limit many communal farmers from taking advantage of market opportunities