Efficacy of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) varieties as a source of food and feed in Endamehoni district, Northern Ethiopia

Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) serves as a source of food, feed, as well as a means of additional income to the people in northern Ethiopia. The species has different varieties with varied rate of productivity and palatability. This study was conducted to assess the food and feed value of the Cactus Pear varieties in Endamehoni District, northern Ethiopia. It was carried out in three “Tabias” (small administrative sub-districts) and nine sub-Tabias (also known as “Kushets”). These areas were purposively selected as they are well known for their good diversity of Cactus varieties. A total of one hundred and twenty households (n = 120) were randomly selected for interviews using a semi-structured interview. This was supplemented by information obtained through key informants’ interviews and field visits. The local farmers made the identification and characterization of cactus varieties traditionally based on the outstanding phenotypes like fruit characteristics, seed size and content, cladode descriptors and plant height. A total of 13 Cactus varieties were identified and recorded. To assess the food and feed value and to select the best used varieties in the area, preference rankings were made. It was found that not all varieties were equally edible and palatable. The most serious constraints in palatability were associated with fruit taste, fruit size, presence of spines, and hardness of seeds. The ethnobotanical study on palatability was supplemented by chemical analysis on Dry Matter (DM), Ash, Organic Matter (OM) and Crude Protein (CP) content from two-year-old young cladodes of four Cactus varieties (Kille, Wadwada, Magalla and Limo) that are more preferred for food and feed. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences in DM, OM and Ash content at p<0.05 (not at p<0.10). There was no variation in crude protein content amongst the varieties tested. From the results, it is concluded that propagation and use of varieties Kille, Limo, Magalla and Wadwada by farmers of the area is advisable.Keywords: Characterization, Cladode, Community, ethnobotany, fruit, palatability, preference, propagation, traditional knowledg

The potential and limitations of grasslands for livestock production in west Shoa zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia

Playwright: Meredith Wilson and Franklin Lacey Director: Harold C. Crain Musical Direction: Edwin C. Dunning Costumes: Berneice Prisk Lighting: Steven Maze Academic Year: 1966-1967https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/productions_1960s/1006/thumbnail.jp

The potential and limitations of grasslands for livestock production in west Shoa zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia

Global Affairs Canad

Oestrus synchronization for accelerated delivery of improved dairy genetics in Ethiopia: Results from action research and development interventions

Oestrous synchronization is the manipulation of the oestrous cycle or induction of oestrus to bring a large percentage of a group of females cattle into oestrus at a short, predetermined time. The first field trial on hormonal oestrous synchronization regime and mass artificial insemination was conducted by the Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) project in Tigray and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNP) regions. The objective was to improve access to improved dairy genetics by smallholder farmers and to kick-start market-oriented smallholder dairy development in Ethiopia. Following the field trial, the synchronization technology was adopted and scaled up by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and regional Bureaus of Agriculture (BoAs) in collaboration with the IPMS and Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) projects of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)) and the national research system. Performance of the scaled up project was inconsistent in the application of the technology and the results achieved. This working paper synthesizes results of action research activities and performance of the technology at larger scale, discuss implications of the results and draw recommendations for effective and sustained application of the technology in Ethiopia

A call to action: Addressing the reproductive health needs of women with drug-resistant tuberculosis

Although there is substantial risk to maternal and neonatal health in the situation of pregnancy during treatment for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB), there is little evidence to guide clinicians as to how to manage this complexity. Of the 49 680 patients initiated on RR-TB treatment from 2009 to 2014 in South Africa, 47% were women and 80% of them were in their reproductive years (15 - 44). There is an urgent need for increased evidence of the safety of RR-TB treatment during pregnancy, increased access to contraception during RR-TB treatment, and inclusion of reproductive health in research on the prevention and treatment of TB

Hadamard transform based Equal-average Equal-variance Equal-norm nearest neighbor codeword search algorithm

New York, US

Multi-stakeholder Platforms Strengthening Selection and use of Fodder Options in Ethiopia: Lessons and Challenges

N° ISBN - 978-2-7380-1284-5International audienceAlthough existing literature eloquently elaborates the role of an “innovation systems perspective” in rural development and provides theoretical insights into the concepts of the approach, there are few practical lessons emerging from application of the approach in research for development projects in various contexts. This paper analyzes a project designed to strengthen the ability of smallholders to innovate in ways that improved the returns to fodder use in Ethiopia. The paper applies an innovation systems perspective to the innovation process as a means of describing the contribution of a project-driven multi-stakeholder platform. A number of key lessons were gleaned from our research. Participatory selection of technologies that addressed farmers' priority problems and demonstrating tangible economic benefits were found to be effective in winning the trust of farmers and drawing the attention of a wider group of stakeholders. The benefits from the technologies needed to carry limited risk and accrue early economic gains to be attractive to farmers. Linking forage technologies with a range of value chain issues in livestock enterprises was essential for successful adoption of forage technologies by farmers. Engaging diverse actors in stakeholder platforms, including local decision makers, along the dairy/fattening value chain was found to be instrumental in turning the wealth of knowledge surrounding fodder technologies and practices into action and creating immediate benefits to poor livestock keepers. On the other hand we found that nurturing collective capacity of a network of organizations and individuals was a major challenge for small projects with limited mandate and resources. For sustainability, organizations with a long term commitment and strong decision-making power need to play a leading role in facilitating innovation processes. An effective agricultural innovation system requires a cadre of professionals with a new skill set and mind set (markets, agribusiness, rural institutions, rural microfinance, facilitation, system analysis, conflict management, etc.). This implies the need for research and development organizations to re-skill, and the need for the reform of university curricula to include skills in agribusiness, communication and partnership facilitation. Large scale institutional and policy change requires piloting of the concept and practices of facilitating innovation through stakeholder platforms in different contexts, documenting and sharing experiences, building on successes and engaging policy makers in the research process

Feed resources in the highlands of Ethiopia: A value chain assessment and intervention options

Global Affairs Canad

Implementation of the 'Optimising the Health Extension Program' Intervention in Ethiopia: A Process Evaluation Using Mixed Methods

An intervention called 'Optimising the Health Extension Program', aiming to increase care-seeking for childhood illnesses in four regions of Ethiopia, was implemented between 2016 and 2018, and it included community engagement, capacity building, and district ownership and accountability. A pragmatic trial comparing 26 districts that received the intervention with 26 districts that did not found no evidence to suggest that the intervention increased utilisation of services. Here we used mixed methods to explore how the intervention was implemented. A fidelity analysis of each 31 intervention activities was performed, separately for the first phase and for the entire implementation period, to assess the extent to which what was planned was carried out. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with 39 implementers, to explore the successes and challenges of the implementation, and were analysed by using thematic analysis. Our findings show that the implementation was delayed, with only 19% (n = 6/31) activities having high fidelity in the first phase. Key challenges that presented barriers to timely implementation included the following: complexity both of the intervention itself and of administrative systems; inconsistent support from district health offices, partly due to competing priorities, such as the management of disease outbreaks; and infrequent supervision of health extension workers at the grassroots level. We conclude that, for sustainability, evidence-based interventions must be aligned with national health priorities and delivered within an existing health system. Strategies to overcome the resulting complexity include a realistic time frame and investment in district health teams, to support implementation at grassroots level