Survey on Ethno-Veterinary Medicinal Plants in Selected Woredas of East Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Background: Plant remedies are still the most important therapeutics to treat livestock aliments; large part of the knowledge of ethno medicinal plants is declining to deterioration due to the oral passage of herbal heritage verbally. The objective of the study was to identify and document ethno-veterinary medicinal plants. Methods: The study was carried out from November 2013 to April 2014. The study sites were selected purposefully based on the recommendations of elders and local authorities. Ethno-botanical data were collected using semi-structured interviews, field observations and group discussion. 42 study participants were involved in this study during the study period.Results: A total of 28 ethno-veterinary medicinal plant species belonging to 22 families were documented with details on their local name, family, habit and their traditional preparation, mode of application. Solanaceae and Euphorbiaceae families constituted the highest proportion (10.7%) followed by Fabaceae and Cuccurbitaceae with the same proportion (7.14%). The informants were reported as there were 16 known livestock ailments which are treated by traditional healers. Herbs (74%) were the most widely used followed by shrubs (34.3%). Oral route of administration (53.5%) was the most commonly used followed by topical (35.2%). About 68% of the plant taxa were collected from the wild and, 32% from home gardens. Agricultural expansion (23%) has been found to be the first main threat followed by overgrazing (21.2%). Conclusion: The study revealed that the traditional healers were with a good of knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat livestock ailments. Thus, further research should be conducted to evaluate the efficacy and possible toxicity of the plants in the study area. Keywords: Ailments, East Wollega Zone, Ethno-Veterinary Medicinal plants, Livestoc

management of Foreign Body Aspiration in Pediatric Patients: An Experience from a Tertiary Hospital in Ethiopia

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Evaluation of the effect of sorghum-legume intercropping and its residual effect on yield of sorghum in yeki woreda, sheka zone, Ethiopia

The imbalance between the crop production and population growth is currently the major issue in southern Ethiopia. To feed the growing population, increasing the production of food through growing more crop types in the same field as an intercropping is the right strategy. The current study was aimed at evaluating the effect of sorghum-legume intercropping and its residual effect on yield of sorghum. The land equivalent ratio was calculated for sorghum intercropped with pigeon pea and cowpea. Intercropping sorghum with pigeon pea and cowpea increases the land productivity as its Land Equivalent Ratio is greater than 1. In both cases, the land equivalent ratio is greater than 1 indicating the benefits of intercropping. The residual effect of sorghum intercrop with legumes was evaluated on the yield of sorghum. Although there was no statistically significance differences on yield and yield component of sorghum, sorghum planted on the plot of pigeon pea and cowpea sole has 44.6% and 27.8% yield advantage relative to sorghum alone respectively. Planting sorghum under sorghum-cowpea intercropped condition increase the yield of sorghum by 41.8%. The result also shows 74.0% sorghum yield change was observed when planted after intercropped condition of sorghum with pigeon pea. The productivity of sorghum also increases when planted on the plot of sole legume. The current finding in general shows that legume crops contributed to the yield of sorghum either intercropped with legume or grown up using residual contribution of legumes after a year. Therefore, for maximum sorghum production farmers in the area should plant either as intercrop or after residual effect of legumes. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 9(2): 62-66, December 201

Women in conflict and indigenous conflict resolution among the Issa and Gurgura clans of Somali in Eastern Ethiopia

This article tries to show the impacts of conflict on women, the role of women in conflict and indigenous conflict resolution, and the participation of women in social institutions and ceremonies among the Issa and Gurgura clans of the Somali ethnic group. It explores the system of conflict resolution in these clans, and women’s representation in the system. The primary role of women in the formation of social capital through marriage and blood relations between different clans or ethnic groups is assessed. The paper focuses on some of the important elements of the socio-cultural settings of the study community that are in one way or another related to conflict and indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms. It also examines the positive aspects of marriage practices in the formation of social capital which strengthens friendship and unity instead of enmity.

Preliminary Study on the Impact of Water Quality and Irrigation Practices on Soil Salinity and Crop Production, Gergera Watershed, Atsbi-Wonberta, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Possible long term effects on soil salinity and crop production due to the quality of water and irrigation practices is assessed in an area in Gergera Watershed in Atsbi-Wonberta, Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Ten water  samples collected from hand-dug wells and small household ponds, and thirty soil samples from different depths up to ~100cm were tested for  various parameters such as TDS, pH, anions and cations. Data indicate that both water and soil in terms of quality are acceptable for irrigation  purposes. However, at present the soil salinity is not a serious issue but the data suggests its possible increase with time as indicated by two samples. Some of the issues such as use of sprinklers, organic manure, blending, seasonal crops are discussed in the light of maintaining the  required quality, proper utilization of soil and water resources, and for sustainable development.Keywords: Watershed, Water quality, Soil quality, Hand-dug wells, House-hold Ponds

Practices and Challenges of Children’s Learning Assessment in Pre-school Centers

The purpose this study was to investigate practices and challenges assessing children in pre-school centers. In the study, 66 teachers participated from government and non-government pre-school centers. To collect data, questionnaire, interview and observation guide were used. The quantitative data was analyzed through frequency, percentage, and mean and the qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Findings show that educators hold diverse views and have varying approaches to assessment, using different tools and methods. All participants agree that assessment is important for supporting children’s learning and development.The findings revealed that poor curriculum implementation and instruction, unfair assessment practices such as unhealthy comparison among children, labelling children as failures by emphasizing on norm, using paper-pencil tests, focusing on few domains of children’s development, using the assessment result for promotion, and a possible wrong interpretation of assessment results.  Moreover, poor documentation of learning activities of the children, using few assessment tools throughout the semester and summative assessment approaches, poor parent communication and feedback provision were common problems in the majority of preschool centres. Lack of professional staff, lack of ECCE syllabus, large class size, and lack of knowledge and skill were the major challenges. Keywords: Assessment Practice; Challenges; Children assessment; Pre-school DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-4-0

Prevalence and Clinico-Pathology of Ketosis in Dairy Cows in Tigray Region of Ethiopia

An investigation to study the prevalence and clinico-pathology of ketosis in dairy cows was undertaken from November 2007 to May 2008 at Kalamino, Agazi and Mekelle University dairy farms in and around Mekelle town of Tigray region of Ethiopia. Recently- calved cows were screened for ketosis by subjecting urine and milk sample to strip (URS-10) and Rothera’s tests.An overall prevalence of 12.29% was recorded with highest prevalence  during January and February. Age-wise, the highest prevalence was noticed at 8-9 years of age (73.34%). Cows in their 4th lactation (46.67%) and those in 1-2 months (53.35%) of lactation had significantly higher prevalence (p< 0.005). The clinical observations in ketotic cows were  anorexia, refusal to take concentrate and decrease in milk yield. There was 30-100% decrease in milk yield in most of the cases. The body temperature, pulse and respiration rates were within normal range withdecreased rumen motility. Feces were scanty, mucoid and dry; and urine, breath and fresh milk had characteristic smell of acetone. Ketotic animals were treated with dextrose and insulin.Keywords: Dairy Cows, Ketosis, Prevalence, Mekelle, Ethiopia