Determinants of Dairy Farmers’ Market Participation in the Major Dairy Producing Towns of Jimma Zone of Southwest Ethiopia

The study was initiated with the objectives of analyzing factors affecting dairy farmers’ market participation in major milk producing towns of southwest Ethiopia. Milk and butter were the two most important dairy products marketed in the areas. Data came from 238 dairy producing households, 17 traders, and 50 consumers. Heckman two stages procedures were used to analyze factors affecting milk market participation and level of participation in the study area. The first step of the Heckman two stages procedures results showed that dairy household milk market entry decision was strongly and significantly affected by  family size,  number of cross breed and local breed  milking cows owned, access to credit and distance from milk market center. In addition, the second stage estimation result revealed that marketable milk volume was found to be strongly and significantly affected by the number of cross breed and local breed milking cows owned, family size, and monthly non-dairy income source of sampled dairy household.  69.7% were market participants as they were found to sell raw milk at the time of the survey, while the rest (30.3%) did not sell at the time of survey. Keywords: Milk, market participation, Heckman model, southwest Ethiopi

Response to dietary tannin challenges in view of the browser/grazer dichotomy in an Ethiopian setting : Bonga sheep versus Kaffa goats

It has been suggested that goats (typical browser) are better adapted to digest tannin-rich diets than sheep (typical grazer). To evaluate this, Bonga sheep and Kaffa goats were used in a 2x3 randomized crossover design with two species, three diets, and three periods (15-day adaptation+7-day collection). The dietary treatments consisted of grass-based hay only (tannin-free diet=FT), a high-tannin diet (36 % Albizia schimperiana (AS)+9 % Ficus elastica (FE)+ 55 % FT (HT)), and HT+polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG). Animals were individually fed at 50 g dry matter (DM)/kg body weight (BW) and had free access to clean drinking water and mineralized salt licks. Nutrient intake, apparent nutrient digestibility, nutrient conversion ratios, and live weight changes were determined. Condensed tannin concentrations in AS and FE were 110 and 191 g/kg DM, respectively. Both sheep and goats ate 47 % more of HT than FT, and dry matter intake further increased by 9 % when PEG was added, with clear difference in effect size between goats and sheep (P<0.001). The effects of the tannin-rich diet and PEG addition were similarly positive for DM digestibility between sheep and goats, but crude protein (CP) digestibility was higher in HT+PEG-fed goats than in sheep fed the same diet. However, PEG addition induced a larger improvement in growth performance and feed efficiency ratio in sheep than in goat (P<0.001). The addition of PEG as a tannin binder improved digestion and performance in both species, but with the highest effect size in sheep

Quality of Education: The Case of Jimma University

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the quality of education, research and service in Jimma University. To attain this objective, a cross sectional survey method was used and the target population of regular students, teachers, department heads, and units of student support services. The findings of the study revealed that Jimma University has used different means to disseminate its mission, vision and values to its staff through various approaches. The University has also made its level best to enhance the quality of education through the implementation of continuous assessment, active learning approach, e-learning, remedial and affirmative action and application of community-based training. However, there was a variation among colleges and Institutes in their performance and hence the academic program and quality assurance director should do its level best to maintain uniformity among these units of the University. Students were also highly complaining the services provided in the university such as cafeteria, dormitory, student clinic and guidance and counseling and it requires the office to develop the capacity of counselors, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists and cafeteria workers

An Exploration of the Utilization of Supervision Feedbacks: The Case of Some Secondary Schools in Jimma Zone

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore how secondary schools use the feedback they receive from the supervisors. Qualitative approach is holistic, contextual and focuses on design, and procedures to gain real, rich and deep data to have a wide understanding of the entire situation which is also applicable to this study. With this understanding therefore, qualitative approach was employed for this study. Accordingly, data were collected from Woreda education offices, school administration board, principals, vice-principals, supervisors, department heads, and senior teachers through in depth interview, FGD and document analysis. Then, the data were analyzed qualitatively theme by theme through narrative descriptions. The finding revealed that, there no difference among the schools concerning the importance of utilizing supervision feedbacks in improving teaching learning activities in schools. On the contrary, the actual utilization of supervision feedback is not as per the intended in all the schools under the study which indicates supervision feedback utilization is under challenge. Thus, majority of the schools have mentioned the followings as problems. These are supervision roles are simplified by the respective offices, low readiness of teachers to positively see the comments of supervisor, supervisor\u2019s lack of supervision skills to supervise teachers in giving objective feedback, lack of close cooperation from the side of Woreda education offices. They are criticizing the school being at a distance rather than arranging conditions to work in collaboration. Finally, measures to be taken by the concerned bodies to alleviate the problems were suggested both by research participants and researchers

Feed resources and livestock production situation in the highland and mid altitude areas of Horro and Guduru Districts of Oromia Regional State, Western Ethiopia

A survey was conducted in the highland and mid altitude areas of Horro and Guduru districts of Horro Guduru Wollega Zone of Oromia Regional State, western Ethiopia with the objectives of assessing livestock production situation, livestock production  constraints, major feed resources and their potential contribution. A single-visit multi subject formal survey method was used in the survey. A total of 210 household heads, 60 from highland and 150 from mid altitude areas were selected and interviewed. The average land holding was 4.43±0.26 ha per household in the highland and 3.98±0.11 ha in the mid altitude areas. The average size of grazing lands of highland respondents (0.73±0.08 ha) was significantly higher (P&lt;0.001) than that of mid altitude (0.47±0.03 ha). Similarly, the average livestock holdings of highland respondents (13.00±0.60 heads) were significantly higher (p&lt;0.001) than that of mid altitude livestock holding (9.72±0.45 heads) in which cattle dominates other species. Feed shortage, health problem, poor genetic potential, labour and water shortage were listed as major constraints for livestock production. Natural pasture, cop residues, stubble grazing were listed as major feed resources, with minimal contribution of improved forages and local beverage by products (Diqi or atela). Disappearance of better quality and palatable species of grasses, expansion of invasive plants like Raphanus raphanistrum and Parthenium hysterophorus, and depletion of soil nutrients were listed as factors affecting the quality of grazing land. An average of 11.55 and 13.89 tons of feed dry matter (DM) was produced per household of highland and mid altitude, respectively, of which about 74.03% of the feed in highland and 80.63 % in mid altitude were obtained from crop residues. The contribution of private grazing land was estimated to be 11.7 and 6.41 % of the total feed supply from the private holdings in highland and mid altitude areas, respectively. The contribution of stubble (after math grazing) was estimated to be 14.81 and 13.03 % of the feed that can be obtained from private holdings.Keywords: Livestock, Natural pasture, Crop residues, Aftermath grazing, Agro-ecologies

Effects of altitude and harvesting dates on morphological characteristics, yield and nutritive value of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.) in Ethiopia

The effects of altitude and harvesting period on the performance of desho grass were evaluated in Ethiopia. A factorial arrangement of treatments was employed with a combination of two altitudes and three harvesting dates. Planting and management of desho grass was undertaken according to recommendations for the species. The data collected consisted of plant height, number of tillers, number and length of leaves, leaf-to-stem ratio and fresh yield. Chemical analysis of the constituents of desho grass samples was completed according to standard procedures. All data were subjected to two analysis of variance procedures and Pearson correlation analysis, with significance tested at p < 0.05. Results indicated that most morphological characteristics were not significantly different due to altitude except the leaf length per plant. Harvesting dates significantly affected the number of leaves per plant, leaf-to-stem ratio and dry matter yield. Both altitude and harvesting date significantly affected the crude protein content, yield and fiber fractions. Calcium content was significantly different only regarding harvesting date and phosphorus content was significantly affected by altitude. Dry matter content and yield were positively correlated with parameters such as plant height, leaf length per plant, crude protein (CP) yield, fiber fractions (neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber) and with each other. Crude protein content was positively correlated with the CP yield. Overall results indicated that desho grass was affected more by harvesting date than altitude. Generally, desho grass performed well both at mid and high altitude in Ethiopia and could be a potential livestock feed in the country

Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia

A study was conducted to document how smallholder farmers in Ethiopia utilize desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) and explain the determinants of alternative and competing uses of the grass. The study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire for 240 farmers in the districts of Burie Zuria and Doyogena, complemented with input from key informants and secondary data. The dependent variables tested were the use of desho grass as a feed, multipurpose uses of the grass and types of livestock fed. To test the effect of the explanatory variables on the dependent variables, separate univariate Probit models were used. Although the majority of respondents can read and write, about 23% of respondents were illiterate. The average desho grass-producing farmer in the sample owned 0.95 ha of farmland and 3.56 tropical livestock units; average household size was 6.5 people with a household head who was typically male (91% of households). Eighty percent of respondents in Burie Zuria and all respondents in Doyogena district depended solely on rain for desho grass production. Fifty-eight percent in Burie Zuria and 65% in Doyogena district applied either manure or artificial fertilizer to the grass. Weeding of desho grass was not practiced by any respondents in either district. Sixty percent of farmers used desho grass as a feed and 35% used it for more than a single purpose. Forty-two percent of farmers who fed desho grass did so to only lactating cattle, 3% fed it to small ruminants and 53% fed it to all livestock species. There were significant negative correlations (P<0.01) between both experience in production of desho grass and access to training in its production and utilization, and its utilization as a feed. Seventy percent of farmers in Burie Zuria and 13% in Doyogena have received training in desho grass production. To expand the utilization of the grass to as many farmers as possible, further training should be provided. A multi-faceted approach would be needed for the 23% of illiterate farmers over the 2 districts