Determinants of Access to Credit Among Small Scale Irrigation User Farmers in Dangla Woreda, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

The main objective of this study is to determine factors affecting access to credit among small scale irrigation user farmers. The study used both primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected through structured interview questionnaire from 329 irrigation user farmers from two kebeles. The sample households selected by using multistage random sampling method. Logistic regression method is applied to examine factors that affect access to credit. Based on the econometrics estimation result, cost of irrigation technology, households attitude towards risk (risk), income from irrigation, lending procedures, repayment period, age of the household (age) and livestock ownership were important factors influencing smallholder farmers access to formal credit in the study area. Keywords: Credit access, Small-scale irrigation, Agriculture finance DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-5-08 Publication date:March 31st 2019

Determinants of Financial Performance: An Empirical Study on Ethiopian Commercial Banks

This study examines the determinants of financial performance of commercial banks in Ethiopia by using panel data of banks over the period 2002-2013. Since the data is secondary in nature, the quantitative approach to research was considered. Besides, the fixed effect model was used. The fixed effect model is preferred to the random effect model based on the hausman specification test. Under this study, both internal and external factors were included. The internal factors used in this study include capital structure; Income Diversification, operating cost and bank size whereas the external factors are effective tax rate, real GDP growth and inflation. Moreover, ROA and NIM were used as the performance measure. Based on the regression result, all bank specific variables except bank size affect performance of the bank significantly but negatively. However, bank size affects performance significantly and positively. In addition to this, macro-economic factors have no significant effect on the performance of banks except the tax rate which negatively but significantly affects ROA.Jimma Universit

Faecal Contamination of Drinking Water in Arba Minch Town, Gamo Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia.

Background: Water is one of the most important elements for all forms of life. It is indispensable in the maintenance of life of the earth. Microbiological quality of drinking water has attracted great attention worldwide because public health impacts. Frequent examination of faecal indicator organisms remain the most sensitive way of assessing the hygienic condition of water. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to assess the quality of drinking water and factors which contribute for the contamination of drinking water, in Arab Minch town. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2012 at Arbaminch town south Ethiopia. Materials and methods used to assess faecal contamination of drinking water were autoclave, incubator, balance test tube, test tube rack, cleaning and maintenance equipment, refrigerator and others materials used for multiple tube test technique. In house hold the community were visited at time most resident were less busy from Monday to Friday. Result: the study included 169 households to analyse the microbiological quality of drinking water. Latrine availability and utilization is 88%. From the participants majority heard about fecal contamination of drinking water, had home water treatment options. Nearly half of the study participants perceived that the contamination comes from using unclean equipments Conclusion and recommendations: there is unacceptable faecal coli form count. This indicates that the water used was contaminated. Therefore, water treatment and its utilization is highly recommended to prevent water borne diseases. Keywords: Faecal contamination, Water quality Indicator, Gamo Gofa, Ethiopi

Effect of Saline Water on Emergence and Early Seedling Growth of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) at Wolaita Sodo University, Southwestern Ethiopia

Experiment was carried out in laboratory of wolaita Sodo University College of Agriculture department of Horticulture during 2019 with  the objective of  to evaluate  effect of different level of sodium chloride (NaCl) on emergence and seedling growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum.).design used for the experiment was Completely Randomized design (CRD) consisting of five treatments and three replications (Control, 1.2mg/ml:  2.5 mg/ml:  5.8 mg/ml and  8.8 mg/ml) of  NaCl.  Analysis of variance was tested for all treatments at probability level of (p≤0.05) the results reveled, leaf width, leaf length and number of root per seedling showed significant difference among treatments while root length, plant height and leaf number shows no significant, from this finding we conclude that all the growth parameters are affected by high concentration of salinity level that is 8.8 mg/ml and a better performance was counted from 1.2 mg/ml of NaCl. But further study is needed on the effect of  different level of NaCl on growth performance and yield of tomato because the percent research was focused only on seedling emergence and early seedling growth. Keywords: Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L.,NaCl , growth, seedling performance DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-6-01 Publication date:March 31st 202

Applications of First Order Ordinary Differential Equation as Mathematical Model

The major purpose of this paper is to show the application of first order ordinary differential equation as a mathematical model particularly in describing some biological processes and mixing problems. Application of first order ordinary differential equation in modeling some biological phenomena such as logistic population model and prey-predator interaction for three species in linear food chain system have been analyzed. Furthermore, the application in substance mixing problems in both single and multiple tank systems have been demonstrated. Finally, it is demonstrated that the logistic model is more power full than the exponential model in modeling a population model. Keywords: mathematical model; logistic model; exponential mode

Nutrient enrichment of injera to improve food and nutrition security in Ethiopia

El objetivo principal de la tesis fue explorar la posibilidad de usar cáscara de huevo molida (EP) para enriquecer la injera con calcio, uno de los micronutrientes necesitados en la dieta etíope. Los objetivos específicos de la tesis fueron: i) Determinación y puesta a punto de los principales parámetros de calidad de la injera incluyendo parámetros físicos, químicos, nutritivos, microbiológicos y sensoriales; ii) estudiar el efecto de la adición de EP sobre la calidad de la injera; iii) aumentar la vida útil de la injera enriquecida mediante el uso de refrigeración y envasado en atmósfera modificada; y iv) analizar el efecto de la adición de EP en la injera sobre la aceptabilidad de la injera en una población local de Etiopía, y describir las características sensoriales e identificar los direccionadores de mejora de la aceptación de la injera enriquecida con EP. El presente estudio mostró que el EP puede usarse para mejorar el contenido de calcio de la injera y para mejorar el contenido en calcio biodisponible de la dieta en Etiopía. Se debe seguir trabajando para mejorar los parámetros de calidad de la injera que se vieron afectadas por la fortificación con EP.The main objective of the thesis was to explore the possibility of using eggshell powder (EP) to enrich injera with calcium, one of the micronutrients needed in the Ethiopian diet. The specific objectives were i) to define the main quality parameters of injera, including physical, chemical, nutritional, microbiological and sensorial ones: ii) to investigate the effect of the addition of EP on the quality of the injera; iii) to determine conditions to extend the shelf life of enriched injera through refrigeration and modified atmosphere packaging and iv) to analyze the effect of the addition of EP on the acceptability of injera in Ethiopia, and to describe the sensory characteristics and identify the drivers of liking of the EP fortified injera. The current study showed that EP can be used for improving the calcium content of injera and to increase the bioavailable calcium in the Ethiopian diet. Further work has to be done for improving the quality parameters of injera that were affected by the addition of EP.Mujeres por África y Universidad Pública de NavarraPrograma de Doctorado en Agroalimentación (RD 99/2011)Nekazaritzako Elikagaietako Doktoretza Programa (ED 99/2011

Effect of Levels of Nitrogen Fertilizers and Intra Row Spacing on Growth Performance of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum) at Wolaita, Southwestern Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted at the experimental site of Wolaita sodo Universit Colleg of Agriculture  during 2017 cropping season .the objective of this study was to examine effects of level of nitrogen and intra row spacing on growth of potato. The experiment was conducted on a  randomized complete block design with three replications. The result of the experiment revealed significant difference among treatments with regard main stem number, plant height, leaf area, days 50% flowering, shoot fresh weight, total dry weight at(p<0.05). While the combined effect of Nitrogen fertilizer and spacing have no significant among treatments at (p<0.05). maximum  growth of potato were observed for all treatments at  the application  rate of 138kg nitrogen per hectare and50cm intra row spacing except main stem number (10.22)  which is at 30 cm, However the results of the experiment did not include yield components. Thus, a similar research should be conducted so as to assure the results of this experiment and to include yield components.  Keywords : Potato, Nitrogen Fertilizer, Intra Row Spacing , Experiment, Significant DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-14-02 Publication date:July 31st 202

Effect of Integrated Weed Management on Coffee Growth and Yield at Metu and Haru in South west and West Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate different single and integrated weed management methods on the growth and yield of coffee at Metu and Haru sub centers of Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC) between 2014-2018 cropping seasons. At Metu eight treatments were compared in randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments included the following: (T1) One slash in May + one slash in August,(T2) Three slashing (May+Jully+Augesst), (T3) Roundup 3L/ha. sprayed  in may followed by one slashing in July followed by vetivar grass mulching in September , (T4) Roundup 3L/ha.sprayed  in May followed by soybean intercropping in July followed by mulching in September , (T5) Roundup 3L/ha. sprayed  in May haricot bean intercropping in June followed by mulching in September , (T6) Roundup 3L/ha (only for the first year) Desmodium cover crop all year round permanently , (T7) Vetch cover crop in June followed with one hand weeding , and (T8). Weed free (plots kept weed free all year round). At Haru nine treatments were compared in randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments included: (T1)one to two  times slashing (farmers practice), (T2) three slashing in May, June and July, (T3) four slashing in May, June, July and August, (T4) Round up 3L/ha. sprayed in May followed by  slashing followed by mulching followed by slashing and followed by mulching: (T5) slashing followed by Roundup 3L/ha. followed by coffee husk mulching: (T6) Roundup 3L/ha  followed by desmodium cover cropping: (T7) Roundup 3L/ha  followed by vetch cover cropping: (T8) Roundup 3L/ha  followed by soybean intercropping followed by mulching: and  (T9) Weed free (plots kept weed free all year round).. The result raveled that at both locations the major weed species included perennial sedges, perennial grasses, and annual broad leaf At Metu herbicide followed by soybean intercropping and followed by mulching in September gave a mean yield of 13.6 quintal clean coffee. Similarly, desmodium cover cropping provided excellent weed control and resulted in mean yield of 13.7 q/ha clean coffee .Desmodium showed a high smothering effect of the highly competitive perennial sedges and grasses by inhibiting the incoming light reaching the soil compared with  other treatments and the weed free treatment.. At Haru Roundup 3L/ha followed by  slashing followed by mulching followed by slashing and followed by mulching gave consistently very high coffee yield with a mean yield of 21 quintal /ha. compared with other treatments. The weed free treatment gave low yield at both locations. Vetch and desmodium did not well established at Haru compared with Metu. DOI: 10.7176/DCS/10-7-02 Publication date:July 31st 202

Evaluation of Food Barley Genotypes for Grain Yield and Agronomic Traits in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of promising food barley genotypes for grain yield and yield related traits. The trial was conducted in 2017 and 2018 main cropping season using randomized complete block design with three replications. Variance analysis and GGE biplot were used to understand the nature of genotype × environment interaction (G × E) in a grain yield data collected from eighteen  barley genotypes grown in eight environments (Location and year combinations). The combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significantly higher genotype, environment and genotype by environment interaction effects for all the traits studied. Accordingly, genotypes EH1493 X HB1307 (G10) and HB 1307 X ND25160 (G2) showed the highest mean grain yield of 4558 kg ha-1 and 4499 kgha-1, respectively. GGE biplot showed that G10 was the winner genotype at BK18, DB18 and HO18 environments and it has good grain yield stability across the testing environments. Therefore, G10 is a potential candidate variety to be included in the variety verification trial for possible release. Keywords: ANOVA, GGE biplot, grain yield, stability DOI: 10.7176/ALST/84-02 Publication date: December 31st 2020

The Role of International Organizations and Partnerships for Emergency Education in Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions: Online Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of the study was to explore the role of international organizations and partnerships that provided support to the higher education institutions of Ethiopia during the active COVID-19 emergency period. In addition, the study aimed to explore the experiences and challenges of students in working with the online learning platforms that were made available during the pandemic. Qualitative case study was employed. Official email communications and documents were reviewed from two USA based partner organizations that responded to the higher education teaching need during the pandemic. In addition, 30 graduate students from counseling psychology program of the School of Psychology, Addis Ababa University (AAU) were involved in responding to a qualitative questionnaire in Google forms. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. All partnership and collaboration efforts were important in supporting the teaching need of the local institutions during the pandemic. The major themes that emerged as positive experiences were (a) ensuring continuity, (b) new opportunity, (c) safety and economic management, and (d) working with different platforms. The major themes that emerged as challenges were (a) difficulty to adjust oneself, (b) lack of personal touch, and (c) internet and power disruption. The study provided critical message of social infrastructures are highly important as that of physical infrastructure need during emergency education. Additional implications are highlighted in making education systems more resilient