Economic Valuation of Improved Irrigation Water Use: The Case of Woliso District, South West Shoa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

As scarcity of irrigation water is rising, pricing of agricultural water and cost recovery can play a significant role in promoting water use efficiency. Hence, the main objective of this study was to analyze economic valuation of improved irrigation water use. Both primary and secondary data were used to achieve the objective. Cross sectional data were collected from 251 households using a two-stage sampling technique (purposive and random sampling techniques) from four kebeles of Woliso District through a semi-structured questionnaire. The result of the study showed that 92.43% of the households were willing to pay for improved irrigation water use and only 7.57% were not willing to pay. The mean willingness to pay for the use of improved irrigation water from the double bounded dichotomous question of Seemingly Unrelated Bivariate Probit model was Birr 575.23 per year per timad (0.25 ha). On the other hand, the mean willingness to pay from open-ended questions was Birr 562.25 per year per timad (0.25 ha). Thus, appropriate irrigation water pricing will make the user more aware of the resource scarcity, creating more value for the improved irrigation, leading to efficient management of the improved system. Keywords: Economic Valuation; Irrigation; Seemingly Unrelated Bivariate Probit; Woliso

The Problems, Opportunities and Implications of Small Scale Irrigation for Livelihood Improvement in Ethiopia-A Review

This paper has reviewed the Ethiopian small scale irrigation on the basis of its importance, problems and opportunities, future development perspectives, and its implications to livelihood. Small-scale irrigation may have a considerable potential in improving rural livelihoods through employing different mechanisms into account. In Ethiopia, today small-scale irrigation is being promoted through giving highest priority for capacity-building in the study, design, and implementation of irrigation projects because of the associated benefits with it. Accordingly, the future opportunity is also bright in the country. However, small-scale irrigation is associated with certain problems of development that range from individual household’s biased attitudes to institutional arrangements. Therefore, redesigning of institutions, especially appropriate cost recovery mechanisms which contributes to the sustainable management of the irrigation scheme is compulsory work. Keywords: Livelihood; Small Scale Irrigation; Sustainable Management, Review, Ethiopi

A Socio-Economic Linkage of Urban Informal Sector to Formal and Other Informal Sectors in Hawassa Town: Intensifying Growth from the Street

No Abstract

Assessing Environmental Management System: The Case of Dukem Town, Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne, Ethiopia

The article discusses the problem of industrial pollution in Ethiopia, a newly industrializing country. The federal, state, and local governments have implemented various laws, policies, and initiatives to address the issue, and environmental organizations have been established. The study focuses on evaluating the environmental management system in Dukem Town using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, including questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and observational data. The study finds that industrial pollution in Dukem Town, particularly at Di Yuan Ceramic and Habesha Steel Mills Plc in the Eastern Industrial Zone, is rapidly expanding. Most functioning industries in the town lack waste treatment plants, and even where they exist, they are not properly used. Many industries discharge untreated effluent into the adjacent community or nearby communities’ drainage facilities without proper treatment, violating the specified requirements. Even in cases where industries have waste treatment plants, most of them do not function properly due to financial and political challenges. As a result, the environment and communities around them are vulnerable to pollution and its adverse effects. Keywords:Environmental protection; Environmental management system; Industrial pollution control; Sustainable development policy; Oromia Special Zone (Ethiopia) DOI: 10.7176/CEIS/10-1-03 Publication date:September 30th 202

An Assessment of the Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Obtaining Investment Prospects in Burayu Sub-City, Gafarsa Burayu District, Oromia, Ethiopia

The main goal of this research is to identify the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs operating micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the Burayu sub-city of Gafarsa Burayu District. The study used a descriptive research design to describe the current state of affairs, and an inferential research design to examine the effect of independent variables (such as access to finance, markets, networks, working premises, regulation, and technology) on the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Data was collected through primary sources and secondary sources and analyzed using simple statistical techniques like percentage and cross-analysis. The findings suggest that women entrepreneurs in Burayu sub-city perceive entrepreneurship as a means of income, empowerment, and independence. Keywords: Micro & Small Enterprises, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurs, Burayu, Gafarsa District DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/13-15-01 Publication date:September 30th 202

Impact of Sidewalk Business Enterprise in Sustaining Urban Livelihoods in Southern Ethiopia

The main purpose of this study has been to identify and draw attention to thesituation of vendors and vendor activities in the study area. It attempted toprovide a picture of the future trajectory of vending as informal economicactivity. In order to achieve this objective a sample of 140 street vendors wereselected and relevant data were gathered and analyzed. The findings of thestudy revealed a variety of vendor activities. The study also revealed that themajority of street vendors joined sidewalk business due to economic  hardships in their lives and to provide sustenance for themselves and their dependent families. Vending on street provides livelihood, source of  additional income and temporary employment to the urban poor and  relatively cheap goods for low income group urban population

Policy Analysis of English-Medium Instruction in Ethiopian Higher Education

Ethiopia is a multilingual and multicultural country that has over eighty-five languages. Among the SSA states, it is the only country with its own scripts and written language that has been used in traditional schooling for thousands of years beginning from the Axumite civilization in the fourth century. It has a recorded history of indigenous education systems associated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church that has influenced the political and social life of the country for so long

In-situ Conservation of wild forest coffee-Exploring the potential of participatory forest management in south west Ethiopia

Maintaining the gene pool of Coffea arabica in the forests of South West Ethiopia, where this plant evolved and has its genetic hearth, is a challenge of global importance. Participatory Forest Management (PFM) and Biosphere Reserves (BR) are among the various initiatives being tested to maintain this forest and its biodiversity that includes major stands of wild Arabica coffee. This paper makes a comparative analysis of PFM and BR approaches to conservation as applied in Ethiopia. While BR legislation provides a framework for enforcement, there can be difficulties in achieving this on the ground especially with the pressures from communities on these forests and the limited resources of the state to enforce protection. In some cases because core zones are alienated from communities these areas are seen as open access by local communities and have suffered especially from fires and focused deforestation. An alternative approach for in situ conservation of wild coffee using PFM has been explored in South West forest of Ethiopia. PFM, by engaging local communities in the management of forests is believed to increase economic and environmental benefits while reducing costs of conservation..Monthly field monitoring by communities and annual reviews with the government have turned this forest from open access to community controlled. Critically the development of market links and value chains for forest products is motivating communities to maintain and improve their forest. It is hoped that PFM will create a win-win goal – enhancing the role played by the forest in rural development and ensuring the conservation of wild coffee genetic resources

Assessments of Household Coping Strategies toward Food Insecurity in Hawi Gudina District, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

This study was aimed to assess households` coping strategies toward food insecurity in Hawi Gudina District of West Hararghe zone.  A multi- stage random sampling technique was employed to select sample households randomly from six Kebele Administrations of the district by using Probability Proportional to Size. Both primary and secondary data were used. The required data set for the study were collected from 140 households through interview schedule. Household calorie acquisition was analyzed to measure the status of household food security. Out of 140 households 32.9% and 67.1% were food secure and insecure, respectively. Coping strategies practiced by households in the study area were collected and analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The result of the study revealed that, reducing size of meals (86.4%), sale of cattle (80%), borrow grain/cash from relative (74.3%), work as daily laborer (60.7%) and sell of firewood and charcoal (58.6%) were the top five strategies that were practiced by sampled households during food insecurity situation. The study recommends the need to assist farming households regarding the negative impact of applied strategies on their future asset and natural resource aspect of study area through awareness creation and provision of other option which are suitable to the environments of the study area. Keywords: Coping strategies, Household, Calorie intake, Food insecurity, Hawi Gudina distric